RANKIN INLET - RCMP Sgt. Gavin Nash reported an increase in the number of calls to police since this time last year at a council meeting June 18 in Rankin Inlet's municipal chambers.

At a council meeting June 18, RCMP Sgt. Gavin Nash shows off one of the six new emergency locator beacons Nunavut Emergency Management provided to Rankin Inlet. - Christine Grimard/NNSL photo

Nash said the hamlet received 129 calls in May 2007, compared to 98 calls in the same month last year.

He said, however, there has been a drop in reports of impaired driving, and said that speeding seems to have decreased in the community.

Nash credited the radar course conducted earlier this month for lowering the speeds, as community constables have been out monitoring speeds with new radar gear.

"We're going to continue to stay highly visible," said Nash.

He also showed council members two of the new personal locators the RCMP received from Nunavut Emergency Management.

The emergency locator beacons can be signed out of the RCMP for people going on long trips, to help authorities track them down in case anything happens.

"Hopefully it will make search and rescue a little easier," said Nash.

Once a person activates the signal on the beacon, that signal goes out to the Trenton and RCMP search and rescue teams to show their location.

Co-op, Northern drop prices

Mayor Lorne Kusugak addressed letters confirming that the Co-op and the Northern have both reduced prices after new food mail regulations have come into force.

Paul Waye, senior administrative officer for Rankin Inlet, said as of April 8, Winnipeg has been an authorized food mail entry point.

Previously the most direct entry point was Churchill, Man., which was inefficient in delivering food on time and at a low cost, said Waye.

With the new option, both stores needed to lower their prices to reflect the lower freight costs.

Planners prepare for population growth

Rankin Inlet is likely to double in size by 2027, said community planner Michelle Armstrong.

She and co-worker Andrew Sacret, from FoTenn Consultants, are in Rankin Inlet to help the community plan for the population growth.

Having just arrived, the pair said they are here to help the community create a community plan and determine zoning bylaws. The two are looking at limitations on development, including the contaminated area around the dump and the watershed of Lake Nippissar.

The pair will be working with the hamlet and consulting with local groups for their project.

Doll festival coming to town

A doll festival is most likely coming to town for three weeks in August and September.

Council discussed how it will accommodate the group.

The festival organizers are hoping to rent the community hall. The group will be showing dolls and wall hangings made from around the Kivalliq.