Council – Housing Affordability

A plan for the city to partner with three other agencies to develop affordable housing on a vacant Princess Street property has been approved by city council.

Council met last night and approved a report from staff to develop a partnership with Kingston Frontenac Housing Corporation, Home Base Housing and Kingston Co-Operative Homes.

The city hopes to work with those agencies to develop the site in the area of Princess and Hillendale in phases.

The city owns the property.

Staff will report back to council on its progress in reaching an agreement with the agencies.

The city’s financial contribution to the project would be $18 million.

 

Camper Fire

The 401 eastbound was closed last night in the Napanee area when a large recreational vehicle caught fire.

Napanee and Loyalist Township Fire and Rescue responded to the scene around eight last night.

Nobody was injured but the camper was destroyed.

The 401 eastbound reopened around 10 last night.

 

Former Fire Chief – Sentencing

The former Fire chief of Gananoque and Leeds and Thousand Islands has been sentenced to 9 months in jail and will have to pay back 43 thousand dollars to the town, township and firefighters association.

Gerry Bennet pleaded guilty to fraud in July and was sentenced yesterday for defrauding the two municipalities and the firefighter’s association.

 

Driver Charged

A 34-year-old man from Verona man is facing six charges, following that collision involving five vehicles at Princess Street and Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard on Sunday.

The driver of a vehicle that went through a stop light and hit a car ran from the scene.

Police say they arrested a man getting into a taxi about 45 minutes following the crash.

He was a suspended driver and faces charges of dangerous operation of motor vehicle, leaving the scene of the crash and breach of probation.

 

Assault – Sentence

A 48-year-old Kingston man will be spending weekends in the Quinte Detention Centre after assaulting a pizza delivery driver.

A judge found Wayne Stierman guilty of the assault.  He was also sentenced to two years of probation and will have to pay $100 a month for repairs to the teeth of his victim.

He had followed a 26-year-old Pizza Hut driver to the restaurants parking lot on Warne Crescent and punched the delivery man at least five times.

 

Campground Assault

A 58-year-old man from Loyalist Township is facing charges after an assault at a camp ground on the Labour Day weekend.  The OPP say a man got into an argument with fellow campers using a neighbouring site at the campground on County Road 8 in Greater Napanee.  A glass object was smashed over the heads of a man and a woman.  The victims were taken to hospital early Monday morning for treatment of injuries.  Darcy Proux of is facing two counts of assault with a weapon.

 

Emergency Training

Loyalist Township is holding a test of its emergency response plan between 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. today.

It will take place in partnership with Midstream LPG at 384 County Road 4.

The township is advising residents the multi-agency training exercise will involve simulated responses to an emergency and there might be lane reductions on County Road 4 between Millhaven Road and Bath Road during the exercise.

 

YMCA Peace Medal

The YMCA of Eastern Ontario is looking for nominations for its Peace Medal Awards.

It is looking for individuals or groups who have demonstrated a commitment to building peace in the

community or communities elsewhere in the world.

Nominations are open until October 15 and details are available at the Kingston YMCA website.

The Kingston Peace Medal Award breakfast will take place on November 1s at the Four Points Sheraton.