Rankin Inlet Mayor Harry Towtongie draws upon the skills of a strong hamlet council to help put his vision for a stronger community in place for future generations. Towtongie said it’s almost hard to believe how few resolutions are rejected by council, unless there’s some information missing or something of that nature. He said the majority of the council has been together for a year now and the members functions as a well-oiled machine on most topics. “In order for me to consistently achieve what I want, sometimes we talk things over before the next council meeting, so all the council members are aware of what I’m looking for and, hopefully, the majority of us are on the same page when council meets,” said Towtongie. “I like to talk with each councillor before the meetings to get their ideas from them ahead of time. Getting properly prepared for meetings is part of the decision-making process.” The majority of hamlet decisions with this particular council are made based on common sense, first and foremost, according to Towtongie. Council works together to ensure that the official decisions made are going to work for Rankin Inlet, or are going to work in the community’s best interest to address certain issues. He said the council always tries to determine first whether the issue is good for the community. Is adopting it worth it in the long haul? Or is the issue even worth dealing with at all? “As a whole, I suppose, this council shows more common sense in making decisions than, maybe, I’ve been a part of for awhile now,” said Towtongie. “Our current council members are just so on top of the issues that they are always fully prepared before we even go to the meetings. And you never see time wasted on silly or simple little issues when our time can be better spent on more important issues. “This is such a diverse council that many different fields in the community are represented: teachers, businesspeople, college people — all kinds of different vocations or professions that they were in before they became hamlet councillors. “We have Elders on hamlet council and youthful members on council, all working together for the community — and it works!” Towtongie said present council members often show up for council meetings better prepared than he is. He said the council is always prepared to move forward on a number of different topics, always focused on improving the community. “We have an infrastructure wish list that covers, let’s say, a 10-year period. We don’t worry about the 10th year’s budget, we worry, or focus, on the number-one thing we want. “Right now, for example, the council is in the midst of improving the hamlet’s water systems. We don’t just go from one little nitpicking issue to another. We deal with the major issues most of the time. “Council doesn’t waste a lot of time just talking. We go straight to motions and resolutions and get the issue dealt with right there. “Overall, I feel very confident about what we’ll be able to accomplish during the final three years of our term. This council has a strong foundation and isn’t here to accomplish one little thing and forget about it. It’s here for the long haul to help better this community.”
Rankin Inlet hamlet council uses diversity, representation to build a better community: mayor
