City Council Decisions

 

The city will buying another vacant school in Kingston.

City Council unanimously approved making the purchase of St Peter Catholic School in Kingscourt a priority.

 

It was a fairly light agenda at council last night.  A small housing development on the property behind the Church of the Good Thief in Portsmouth Village was also unanimously approved.

 

And…Council voted to ask the province to prohibit the transportation of hazardous materials on highways during bad weather following a fatal crash and chemical spill east of Gananoque in mid-March.

 

Causeway – No Closure

 

Good news for people in Kingston east…The LaSalle Causeway will NOT be closed this weekend.

Public Works and Government Services Canada had planned to close the causeway from late Friday night until early Monday morning…but that closure has been cancelled and the work will be done at a later date.

 

Third Crossing

 

The city is preparing to issue draft reports on the business plan and preliminary plan for the Third Crossing.

It will release those draft reports on May 3rd following open houses on April 26th and 27th.

Officials also expect to have an updated cost for the bridge over the Cataraqui River in time for those sessions.

The existing cost estimate of $120 million is based on the 2011 Environmental Assessment.

 

SIU – Kingston

 

The Special Investigations Unit continues its investigation after a 52-year-old man was found dead following a standoff with police in Kingston.  The man had made his way to a unit at 100 Compton Street after a woman was shot on Beverly Street Monday afternoon.  At the time police said the woman suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The SIU is asking for anyone with information on the case to contact its lead investigator and anyone who has video is being asked to upload it to the SIU’s website.

 

Water Levels

 

The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority says it doesn’t expect any wide spread flooding due to rainfall this week.

Lakes, ponds and creeks are already at or almost at their peak levels in the region.

The Conservation Authority says there will likely be an increase in shoreline flooding and flooding in low lying areas from rain tomorrow and Friday.

It’s asking people to exercise caution around lakes and streams, and is asking people to stay away from the cold, deep, fast flowing water.

 

The Tragically Hip

 

The Tragically Hip has been honoured with the unveiling of a plaque to mark a $400,000 donation to help researchers in Kingston perform clinical trials to improve the treatment of brain cancer.

The money came from Canadians after Gord Downie announced he had brain cancer and the band went on its final tour last summer.

Rob Baker and Gord Sinclair were on hand for the presentation yesterday.  Sinclair spoke on behalf of the band and said cancer researchers deserve our support and thanks.  He finished his brief remarks by saying…”we feel very fortunate to call Kingston home and you can count on our continuing support”.