Latest / North Shore News / March 12th, 2026

Transcript

March 12th, 2026 · North Shore News

0:07
Welcome to North Shore News and Interviews on
0:10
Amherst Island Radio. Each week we keep you updated
0:14
on newsworthy events, happenings and conversations
0:17
that we've had with people in the local community
0:20
and beyond. Loyalist Township Council deferred
0:29
a decision on a bylaw amendment to rezone the
0:31
Windsor retirement residence in Amherstview so
0:34
it can also house an alternative health facility.
0:36
However, the company is already running the alternative
0:38
health facility at the site. This is the second
0:41
time the company has brought a proposal for rezoning
0:43
to council. Various revisions have been made
0:45
to the proposal since the initial submission.
0:47
An additional statutory public meeting was held
0:49
to obtain input from the public. The main concerns
0:52
raised included parking and the safety of residents.
0:55
The latest submission is now proposing to provide
0:57
64 on -site parking spaces, an increase of 13
1:00
spaces from what was initially proposed, and
1:02
an increase of 30 spaces from what exists today.
1:06
Richard Domes, partner and principal planner
1:08
with Gagnon Walker Domes, the plan— consultant
1:10
for the Windsor spoke about the need for extra
1:12
parking. One of the primary comments received
1:14
through the application review process and at
1:17
the initial public meeting was to make sure,
1:19
make effort to alleviate historic usage of Park
1:21
Crescent for overflow on -street parking through
1:24
the provision of adequate on -site parking on
1:26
site. Initially, the proposal contemplated the
1:29
expansion of the current on -site parking from
1:31
34 spaces to 51 spaces. However, the final plan
1:35
further expands the quantity of on -site parking
1:37
to 64 spaces, which is an increase of 30 spaces
1:40
beyond the existing supply. The layout and the
1:42
grading of this expanded parking area will be
1:45
processed through the corresponding site plan
1:47
amendment application, which is ongoing with
1:49
Township staff. To facilitate the additional
1:51
parking requirements of the AHF, an expansion
1:53
to the existing parking area and central courtyard
1:55
is proposed. More specifically, the parking area
1:57
is generally proposed to expand north, closer
1:59
to the building, and since the last public meeting,
2:03
now also expands into the northeast quadrant
2:05
of the site. Additional surplus parking may be
2:08
accommodated west of the building in the future,
2:10
once Westfield Drive is extended by the abutting
2:13
landowner. However, the proposed 64 parking spaces
2:16
east of the building is sufficient to accommodate
2:19
the AHF as proposed. Dooms confirm the alternative
2:22
health facility is already running at the site.
2:24
We identified that the AHF is being run as we
2:30
speak. This was identified through the building
2:33
permit process. As soon as it was identified
2:36
through the building permit process, my client
2:38
immediately started the zoning by -law amendment
2:41
application process. It is not a permitted use.
2:43
The transient wording in the zoning by -law is
2:46
the key that wasn't fully understood by my client.
2:49
Once it was understood, we went to the formal
2:51
channels to try to correct that. and this is
2:54
where we are. Dome's explained what the facility
2:56
is and how it's running. The alternative health
2:58
facility is a form of housing accommodation that
3:01
provides transitional care and living space for
3:04
primarily seniors but not exclusively that require
3:06
medical and physical care on an interim transient
3:09
basis following their transfer from local hospitals
3:12
until their well -being can support return to
3:14
their own primary residence or while they can
3:16
find another facility or long -term care accommodation.
3:20
In our opinion, the AHF is very similar in function
3:23
to the existing retirement home. The primary
3:25
difference being that the retirement home is
3:27
typically a final housing destination, whereas
3:30
the AHF is a transient housing accommodation.
3:34
The temporary nature of the AHF is the primary
3:36
reason why town staff identified the need for
3:38
the zoning by -law and application. And to be
3:41
clear, the AHF is not intended to accommodate
3:43
persons rehabbing from substance abuse. It is
3:46
primarily for senior citizens suffering from
3:48
physical or age -related conditions. The AHF
3:51
will comprise the predominant use of the building
3:54
going forward. However, retirement home use will
3:57
be maintained. As a permitted use to allow, this
3:59
use to operate is a secondary role to the primary
4:02
AHF. Dome spoke about studies that were done
4:04
for traffic and parking. As part of the zoning
4:07
bylaw amendment application a traffic impact
4:09
study was submitted. The traffic impact study
4:12
or TIS concluded that the transportation network
4:16
can accommodate the AHF use without significant
4:20
adverse impact. The current configuration of
4:23
intersections will remain a level of service
4:25
that is acceptable. No intersection improvements
4:27
are required and the reduced parking aisle size
4:31
and parking spot width are accessible based on
4:34
swept path analysis. To determine the parking
4:37
supply for the AHF use, a parking utilization
4:41
survey was completed. The results of that parking
4:44
utilization concluded that a maximum, a peak
4:49
demand of 45 spaces was required, which was larger
4:52
than existing conditions. The level of parking
4:55
was well above that what was identified and meets
4:59
typical industry standard in terms of nursing
5:02
home type leases and long -term care. So from
5:05
that perspective, I think we've done more than
5:08
it was sufficient. Dave Casemore from the Townships
5:10
Planning Department noted plans staff are looking
5:13
into. We're going to increase some buffering
5:15
to make sure that those residential properties
5:17
aren't impacted by the new facility as well as
5:21
public safety was a concern. I know a sidewalk
5:23
goes right across the entrance and through again
5:25
the site plan process there's going to be stop
5:27
signs at the entrance and painted lines to make
5:30
sure any vehicle that's entering outside the
5:33
facility onto the main street is going to have
5:35
to stop and consider the public. people, pedestrians,
5:39
are along there. As well, the zoning reliefs,
5:42
many of the parking reduction in the parking
5:44
size, the reduction in the lanes, this has all
5:47
been vetted through the TIS that, you know, emergency
5:50
vehicles can easily access the site as well as
5:52
it's been circulated through the emergency group
5:56
as well. And the reduction in loading spaces
5:59
has been circulated and spoken to through the
6:01
TIS that it'll all function fine. Case Moore
6:04
noted the issue of parking. I guess really the
6:06
big issue is the parking. You know, from that
6:10
perspective, we've gone through the process of
6:12
third party review. We've, you know, thrown it
6:15
against the IT parking generation manual and
6:18
essentially the group that's there has have exceeded
6:21
that. So from a staff perspective. There's not
6:25
much we can say from that perspective. They've
6:27
exceeded the parking requirements and exceeded
6:30
our bylaw. A resident of Park Crescent, Will
6:32
Hume, raised his concerns with the new proposal.
6:35
I spoke previously about the traffic and parking
6:37
pressures already affecting our street, and those
6:40
concerns remain today. Residents on Park Crescent
6:43
have already made concessions to accommodate
6:45
the operations of this facility. Street parking
6:47
restrictions were introduced that prevent many
6:49
of us from parking in front of our own homes.
6:51
And those changes were presented as as a solution
6:54
to congestion associated with activity at the
6:57
Windsor. More spaces mean more staff vehicles,
7:00
more visitors, more service traffic entering
7:03
a residential street that already struggles with
7:06
congestion during winter months when the roadway
7:09
effectively narrows. Hume also spoke about possible
7:11
issues arising in the future. The neighborhood
7:13
that is supposed to surround this property has
7:15
not even been fully built yet. Planning documents
7:18
show future residential development to the north,
7:20
south and west of this site, approving a more
7:23
intensive institutional use now effectively redesigns
7:26
the future neighborhood around the operational
7:28
needs of a single facility. Last year, the council
7:31
was presented with a summer traffic study intended
7:34
to estimate the impact of future development
7:36
around the site. But many of the assumptions
7:37
in that study depend on neighborhood infrastructure
7:40
that still has not been completed. In sections
7:43
of Park Crescent remained unfinished years after
7:45
construction began. Parts of the roadway have
7:47
not been raised to match the new curb system.
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Some driveways remain unpaved. The street trees
7:51
that were supposed to be planted I guess along
7:54
the sidewalks have never appeared. Overhead utility
7:57
lines also were added and remain low enough that
7:59
large service trucks including vehicles like
8:02
the ones that the Windsor uses have struck them.
8:04
Another resident of Park Crescent Steve Cotter
8:06
spoke about on -street parking. Over the last
8:09
three years, my neighbors and I have observed
8:11
a steady increase of the on -street parking in
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front of our homes. During this period, we have
8:17
repeatedly witnessed and reported illegal parking,
8:20
vehicles parking on our boulevards, cars encroaching
8:22
on our driveways. These issues have interfered
8:25
with our ability to safely exit our properties.
8:28
In addition, I personally experienced multiple
8:30
close calls caused by inattentive drivers entering
8:33
and exiting the Windsor facility. The excessive
8:36
on street parking creates numerous blind spots
8:38
putting both pedestrians and other drivers at
8:41
risk. On numerous occasions, my neighbors and
8:43
I have counted and reported more than 27 cars
8:46
parked on Park Crescent alone. Cars lined bumper
8:48
to bumper, many encroaching onto private driveways.
8:52
This does not include the vehicles parked along
8:54
the south side of Briscoe or in the church parking
8:56
lot. Another resident of Park Crescent, Steve
8:58
Peterson, noted parking and safety concerns as
9:01
well. My main issue is the parking. From what
9:04
I have witnessed, there's up to 23 cars. That's
9:07
all that can fit on the one side of the road
9:09
between Manitou and Briscoe, and that's from
9:11
the stop sign to the stop sign, even in the no
9:14
parking zone that does exist. Not to mention
9:18
all the traffic from patient transfers, which
9:21
is multiple times a day, visitors and staff coming
9:25
and going from the Windsor. I walk my kids to
9:28
school every day and not one person stops before
9:32
they get to the roadway. They come right out
9:34
of the property, right onto the road. I never
9:38
objected to the retirement facility, but I can't
9:41
stand behind the inconvenience that the change
9:43
of business plan has caused to our small street.
9:46
Engineering and environment manager with the
9:48
township Luke McDonald spoke about the parking
9:50
study in terms of the parking study. So there
9:54
has been a lot of discussion on the I .T .E.
9:56
generation rates as that is the best practices
9:58
for calculating parking generations. But staff
10:01
are aware that, you know, a general textbook
10:04
does not capture every single site and each site
10:06
is specific. So we have been conducting our own
10:09
parking surveys as well as receiving information
10:12
from residents and Councillor Proderick as well.
10:15
indicated he's been out doing counts too. So
10:18
the highest count that I've been out for myself
10:20
is 21 vehicles that were parked on the street.
10:24
The highest count that I'm aware of is 27 and
10:27
that would be even considering that all vehicles
10:30
parked on the street would be allocated to the
10:32
Windsor and not residents or school parking or
10:35
what have you and the facility is adding 30 parking
10:39
spots. So based on them having gone ahead with
10:43
the switch which is unfortunate and obviously
10:46
not not what the Township staff would have wanted
10:49
to happen um but having that had occurred we
10:52
are able to go out and do detailed counts of
10:55
the existing operational practices and able to
10:59
confirm that yes the IT generations confirm that
11:02
the numbers that they're proposing makes sense.
11:05
McDonald noted issues with visitor parking as
11:07
well. I know there's been a lot of discussion
11:08
on visitor parking, and I think that's because
11:10
that's one of the hardest elements that to put
11:13
a number on. It's not clear exactly anywhere
11:18
what is required. But one thing that's I've used
11:23
to rationalize this is general times when you're
11:28
going to have visitors. So most people working
11:31
you know, nine to five, they're going to go visit
11:34
at these facilities evenings and weekends. Staff
11:38
counts on these facilities are lowest in evenings
11:41
and weekends. You have admin staff, cleaning
11:43
staff and others that are in throughout the daytime.
11:47
So you're eight to five, your typical working
11:49
hours. But After that, they go home. It's your
11:53
nursing and primary care staff that are there
11:56
in the evenings, which are much lower numbers.
11:58
So you do have additional visitor parking in
12:01
those times when visitors are more likely to
12:04
occur. Councillor Paul Proderick noted why he
12:07
would not support the current amendment. I've
12:09
been in the Windsor. I had a relative stay there
12:11
on a short -term visit. The care was great. Parking
12:14
was non -existent. people visit every day. It's
12:18
not like nobody comes to visit, so I just don't
12:20
see how those numbers are going to play out.
12:23
There's too many things for me that are out there,
12:25
you know, this plan down the road and this down
12:27
the road. I'm not happy with, to be honest, with
12:31
the way this has come to council, and as many
12:34
of the residents have mentioned, parking the
12:37
site plan, and I know there's a process, but
12:40
it seems that if it was such an urgent care situation,
12:43
we would get it. All the ducks will be lined
12:47
up right now. Council will be deferring their
12:49
decision until they receive legal opinion on
12:51
their current position of denying the proposal.
12:53
Deputy Mayor Nathan Townend spoke about the appeal
12:56
process the company will likely go through. If
12:58
it's denied tonight, it will be appealed and
13:00
that appeal will likely be successful. That's
13:02
not in our hands. The other thing is, is I guess
13:05
when I think about this, I distinguish a little
13:07
bit between the proponent and the proposal. If
13:10
I ask myself, you know, is this the appropriate
13:13
location? for this based on the feedback and
13:18
the issues that the residents raised. I can't
13:20
honestly say that I could answer all of those.
13:23
That said, I just want to say for the record,
13:25
of course, that Kingston Health Sciences is overflowing.
13:28
We all have a responsibility in the region as
13:31
dependents on that site to be able to provide
13:34
convalescent space. But the question of whether
13:36
the Windsor is the appropriate site based on
13:38
all the feedback that's been presented by members
13:41
of the public. I'm not satisfied that I personally
13:44
have seen enough to answer those problems. And
13:48
then, you know, Again, to get political because
13:51
everything is political, I have to say that when
13:54
for -profit agencies are part of the healthcare
13:56
solution, there is little assurance here to safeguard
13:59
the long -term future of that site. For -profit
14:02
is for -profit, and if the profit opportunity
14:05
moves to less altruistic uses and those happen
14:08
to meet the four tests of planning approval,
14:11
then I'm not confident we would be able to do
14:14
anything about that either. Councilors Lorna
14:16
Willis and Mike Buderic explained why waiting
14:18
for more information makes sense. I would really
14:21
encourage taking one more look at this and considering
14:25
how we can solve some of the concerns with the
14:28
parking. I walk my dog by there a few times a
14:31
week and not only are there cars in the street
14:34
but there are some other traffic issues that
14:36
need to be resolved before we move forward. For
14:38
Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
14:41
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
14:44
News. The town of Greater Napanee and Lennox
14:56
and Addington County will be going ahead with
14:58
the reconstruction of Center Street and Isabella
15:00
Street in Napanee. As part of a successful joint
15:03
application this year, the town and county received
15:05
funding under the municipal housing infrastructure
15:08
program health and safety water stream. The town
15:10
expects to receive funding covering up to 73
15:13
% of the project's estimated total cost of just
15:15
over $10 .5 million. As part of this project,
15:19
staff plan to replace all water infrastructure
15:21
on Center Street and Isabella Street. The project
15:23
will also include new asphalt, curbs, sidewalks
15:26
and traffic lights as required. This includes
15:29
installing approximately 600 meters of trunk
15:31
water main along with valves, fire hydrants,
15:34
and services on Center Street between Dundas
15:36
Street and Isabella Street, as well as 250 meters
15:39
of similar works on Isabella Street between Center
15:41
Street and West Street. The project will also
15:44
replace 600 meters of wastewater main and associated
15:47
maintenance holes and services on Center Street,
15:49
as well as 175 meters on Isabella Street. 690
15:53
meters of stormwater main, maintenance holes,
15:55
and catch basins will be replaced on Center Street
15:57
between Dundas Street and Isabella Street as
15:59
well. Engineering work is expected to be completed
16:02
in 2026 with the intent of releasing the project
16:04
for contractor bidding later this year. Construction
16:07
is anticipated to occur over two construction
16:09
seasons beginning in early 2027. Additional project
16:12
information will be presented to Council later
16:14
this year providing Council with the opportunity
16:16
to consider the proposed approach and budget
16:19
and then later to make a decision on the construction
16:21
contract award. Christy Kelly, Director of Environmental
16:24
Services, Growth and Infrastructure Services
16:26
with the Town of Greater Napanee, speaks about
16:28
the project's timeline. With this, we're hoping
16:31
to move forward as part of the town and utilities
16:36
budgets for 2026 with engineering and hoping
16:40
to break ground in 2027. Likely will be a phased
16:44
project over two years, but we'll work with the
16:48
engineers and the contractors when we get to
16:50
that time to determine the phasing and rerouting
16:54
and that sort of thing. Kelly, explain some of
16:56
the work staff has done and what they'll be doing
16:57
moving forward. We have just started some engineering
17:01
work. There was a little bit prior to the funding
17:03
application, but this year's budget allowed us
17:05
to, the 2026 budget will allow us to move forward
17:08
and complete the engineering for the project.
17:10
And with most of our procurement processes, this
17:14
will be a public tender allowing. applicants
17:18
to determine the successful contractor for the
17:21
project. Michael Nobes, General Manager of Growth
17:23
and Expansion with the Town of Greater Napanee,
17:25
talks about the county's plans for new traffic
17:27
lights. The county has confirmed with us that
17:30
their intention is to build in traffic lights
17:33
where the pedestrian crossing is currently, replace
17:37
that, that's an interim measure, and the lights
17:39
would be installed as a permanent fixture through
17:41
this project specifically. Councillor Michael
17:44
Shank noted his concerns about the disruption
17:45
of traffic on Centre Street. I have a hard enough
17:48
time, you know, you have a little bit of a rush
17:49
hour now and when you start tearing up Centre
17:51
Street, how are you going to bypass the volume
17:55
of traffic to get south? All I'm saying is how
18:00
does the average Joe go down Centre Street when
18:02
Centre Street is no longer there for a year or
18:04
two years? I can see Center Street in 15 or 20
18:08
years time, it's going to be backed up immensely.
18:11
So there's got to be an alternative route because
18:13
the only reason why, cause you look at the city
18:15
of Kingston, if I want to get to the other side,
18:18
you know what I mean? That our past RMC and thank
18:21
goodness they put the bridge in when they did
18:23
because what it's done, but I can see that same
18:27
problem happening here. Nobz noted that traffic
18:30
planning is a high priority for staff. That is
18:32
the ultimate question on our minds at this moment
18:34
in time, but there's going to be need to be very
18:36
careful traffic planning to go along with that.
18:39
We have a substantial amount of time to plan
18:41
that out, but that is the number one question
18:43
on our minds right now and with the county too
18:45
is how are we going to accommodate that traffic
18:47
flow and lessen the burden as much as possible
18:50
on residential areas east and west. of Center
18:53
Street. Nobs w upcoming county plans may where
19:03
future collector order roads are planned, that
19:05
are going to be under the jurisdiction of the
19:07
county. But the county is also very soon going
19:11
to be presenting, county staff will be presenting
19:13
to county council the county transportation master
19:18
plan update, which will look into considerations
19:22
such as that. Noebs noted the possibility of
19:24
widening the area beside the street. There's
19:26
no intention on Centre Street to expand the limits
19:29
of the road right of way, the ownership, because
19:32
it's almost building wall to building wall. There's
19:34
really no room there. But there is the opportunity
19:37
to look at overall lane widths and therefore
19:40
that would open up more room for sidewalk width.
19:43
We would need to consider existing utilities
19:45
that are in there and relocating them to get
19:47
them out of the way of the sidewalk. There's
19:48
a lot that would need to go into it, but both
19:50
vehicular and pedestrian movement is going to
19:52
be top of mind in the design efforts that would
19:55
be underway very shortly. For Amherst Island
19:57
Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm
20:00
Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. While ALTO
20:12
looks to bring a high -speed train through rural
20:15
parts of Ontario, a citizen -led committee in
20:17
the area has been compiling concerns and complaints
20:19
from area residents. The committee, Save South
20:22
Frontenac, has a group on Facebook and a website
20:25
where residents can voice their concerns. Mainly,
20:27
the committee is against the idea of bringing
20:29
the high -speed train through the area altogether.
20:32
They also voice concerns about property rights,
20:34
environmental impacts and noise levels. ALTO
20:36
is currently looking for public input about the
20:38
project with ways to participate on their website.
20:41
They say they're committed to working with communities
20:43
to identify potential impacts and address them
20:45
through design and mitigation. The company also
20:48
noted the importance of the participation and
20:50
involvement of indigenous peoples at every stage
20:52
to support the federal government's commitment
20:54
to advance reconciliation. With trains reaching
20:57
speeds of 300 kilometers per hour or more on
21:00
approximately 1 ,000 kilometers of mainly electrified
21:03
tracks, Alto claims it will connect millions
21:05
of people living along the Toronto to Quebec
21:07
City corridor. The company says its priority
21:09
is to minimize impacts on private property by
21:12
following existing corridors, such as highways,
21:15
railways, utility corridors, and lot lines whenever
21:18
possible. Once an alignment is defined, the company
21:20
says it will be able to identify the properties
21:22
that could be involved. Katie Koopman, one of
21:24
the committee leaders, spoke about their concerns.
21:27
Our concern as citizens of this community we
21:31
love has a lot to do with how the building of
21:36
such a project will affect both people and place.
21:40
People in terms of having properties, expropriated
21:44
livelihoods. devastated the use and enjoyment
21:49
of the spaces we love, the trail systems like
21:53
the Cataraqui trail, but then also the idea of
21:56
place. We move here for a reason, for peace,
22:00
for some quiet and to raise children and what
22:05
we might think is a safer environment to be more
22:09
integrated into nature. And so we think about
22:12
how this project is going to devastate the Frontenac
22:17
Arch Biosphere, which is a UNESCO heritage site.
22:20
Koopman noted what community members have been
22:22
expressing. The idea of this has stirred a lot
22:26
of emotions, including grief, thinking about
22:29
the loss of all of this. And listening to community
22:34
members share their stories with us as a committee,
22:37
people are losing sleep. They're not sure if
22:43
they should be renovating their house. They're
22:47
worried about losing investments. And so what
22:50
our community or our committee is trying to do
22:53
is to create a platform for South Frontenac residents
23:00
to be able to voice their opinions and their
23:06
concerns, but also to provide advocacy tools.
23:10
to make some noise and let the government know
23:13
that this is not acceptable by us. Koopman spoke
23:17
about Alto's public consultation process. They
23:20
were only hosting open houses in the cities that
23:24
were going to get an actual stop or station.
23:27
So we made some noise and they heard us and they
23:31
honored a request, which was great, to have an
23:33
open house here in South Frontenac. Gord Bolton
23:37
and I are committee leads of, say, South Frontenac.
23:41
So we have phone chats almost every single day.
23:44
looking at what our, you know, re -evaluating
23:46
what our role and goal is, purpose as a committee,
23:50
how we can extend our reach. I reached out personally
23:54
to Peter Paz from Alto and they were very receptive
23:59
of our idea. Koopman detailed the outcome of
24:03
the committee's meeting with Alto and spoke about
24:05
their experience at Alto's open house in South
24:08
Frontenac. We had a meeting and their team was
24:11
very receptive. allowing for us to not even just
24:16
bridge that sort of divide and share space, but
24:20
also to have free range. We were able to conduct
24:23
our own survey with community members. We were
24:26
able to identify ourselves as Save South Frontenac
24:31
team members at the event. to be able to engage
24:36
freely and to also put our own posters up advertising
24:41
our own open house. It was very cordial. The
24:45
turnout was. Impressive. There was probably close
24:49
to 600 people that went through the first half,
24:53
I think, is what I heard. Alto noted where property
24:56
rights are required for the project, owners will
24:58
be compensated at market value for the property
25:01
being acquired, as well as for potential losses
25:03
and reasonable third -party fees incurred. Noting
25:06
concerns about environmental impacts, Alto said
25:09
the project will be subject to a federal impact
25:11
assessment that will evaluate environmental effects
25:13
and mitigation measures before any final alignment.
25:15
is approved. The company also noted that field
25:18
studies are underway to establish baseline noise
25:20
levels and additional data will be collected
25:22
as route selection progresses. Kingston City
25:25
Council recently voted 9 -2 in support of having
25:27
the high -speed rail built in Kingston with a
25:29
local station added to the line. But as council
25:32
discussed the proposal and heard from senior
25:34
representatives of Alto, support grew for a new
25:36
route along the Highway 401 corridor. The company
25:39
told Kingston City Council that the current public
25:41
consultation period is part of a development
25:43
phase that is set to last until until 2029. After
25:46
that, also will be reporting to the federal government
25:49
and they will make the final decision to continue
25:51
the project or not. Koopman spoke about Kingston
25:53
City Council's decision. Their tone at the council
25:57
meeting brought some relief. I think they finally
26:01
started to understand the implications of their
26:05
desire for a train that could harm their northern
26:08
neighbors. They started to take that seriously
26:11
and that is being reflected. in their current
26:15
position on where a train should be located.
26:19
We know that Kingston needs reliable rail. We
26:23
want to take advantage of that ourselves. But
26:26
we want the least impact possible and the maximum
26:30
benefit. Because if there was a train that went
26:33
through the southern corridor, South Frontenac
26:36
residents will not benefit at all. We will be
26:40
in the loss. For Amherst Island Radio and the
26:43
Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This
26:46
is North Shore News. The Southeast Health Unit
26:58
office in Napanee will be continuing its lease
27:00
in a smaller capacity at a lesser rate. Originally,
27:03
they were going to close at the end of March.
27:05
The health unit has now agreed to reduce their
27:07
footprint within the building by approximately
27:09
75 percent. As their lease agreement is based
27:11
on square footage occupied, this has reduced
27:14
their rent from approximately $1 ,825 to $430
27:18
for the final 20 months of the agreement term.
27:21
The town's clerk, Jessica Walters, explains why
27:24
staff believe this is in the best interest for
27:26
the community. In short, the health unit is now,
27:29
they had initially given us a notice of termination
27:31
effective March 31st. The budget was presented
27:35
on the assumption that they would no longer be
27:36
in there after that date. They have subsequently
27:40
submitted a request to continue their lease but
27:43
on amended terms with a reduced footprint in
27:45
the building and therefore reduced cost. Staff
27:47
believe this is in the best interest of the community
27:50
because it would let us maintain the vaccine
27:52
clinics and the fridge for well water testing
27:56
and any other services they might wish to offer
27:59
there through that office space. CAO Matthew
28:02
Grant explains the reduction in space and why
28:04
he supports them staying open. Myself, Mr. Brown
28:07
and Ms. Walters met with the public health team.
28:11
And so it does represent a significantly reduced
28:14
footprint within the building. It's essentially
28:18
a room to keep the vaccines as well as the the
28:23
front reception area. And as a building tenant,
28:26
it still allows them access to the large meeting
28:30
space to run vaccine clinics. So I'm quite supportive
28:36
of it. I do know that the the public health unit
28:39
has had some challenges to navigate since they've
28:44
merged the different units into one single unit.
28:48
And so as they're looking to reduce costs wherever
28:51
they can, this was a way they felt they could
28:54
do that while still maintaining service to the
28:57
community. And generally this results in people
29:01
not having to travel to Kingston for vaccines.
29:04
And I think that's where the win is for residents.
29:07
Councillor Bill Martin expressed a concern he
29:09
had about neighbouring communities using the
29:11
service. I think we have to do it just to maintain
29:13
the services to our residents. But it concerns
29:16
me that we're always asked to pay for a service
29:20
for other communities because this is going to
29:23
be used by more than just Napanee residents.
29:26
It's going to be, you know, it's... Kingston,
29:28
Frontenac, L &A, Prince Edward County. You know,
29:32
so I'm concerned about that part of it actually
29:35
that we're paying, our taxpayers are paying for
29:38
a service for other communities. But like I said,
29:41
I don't want our residents to lose any services
29:44
either. Grant noted the benefits and said they
29:46
wouldn't be paying for other municipalities.
29:48
I don't know that we're necessarily... paying
29:50
us for other municipalities. I think the benefit
29:53
is maintenance of vaccine clinics here, which
29:57
will primarily be for our residents. I would
29:59
say the only benefit other municipalities may
30:02
be getting is that the vaccine supply chain in
30:07
this immediate area of 41 and the like will come
30:10
through Napanee. But I don't anticipate that
30:14
other municipalities will be getting a direct
30:16
benefit from the use of our space other than
30:19
that. Mayor Terry Richardson showed his support
30:21
for the health unit staying open, but noted a
30:23
concern as well. I'm hopeful that our staff aren't
30:26
going to do any more than what they're doing
30:27
now. Obviously, the concern is if it's not staffed
30:32
five days a week, there's a possibility there,
30:34
but I'm sure Mr. Grant and the senior leadership
30:36
team will be monitoring that fairly closely.
30:39
And it's a little bit refreshing in the fact
30:41
that the Health Unit has now realized that it's
30:44
important to have a brick and mortar type of
30:46
facility within our community that you just cannot
30:49
do it remotely. For Amherst Island Radio and
30:52
the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
30:55
This is North Shore News. A seasonal overnight
31:06
parking reminder for Loyalist Township. From
31:08
December 1st until March 31st, 2026, parking
31:12
is prohibited on any road or street in Loyalist
31:15
Township between 1 a .m. and 7 a .m. This restriction
31:18
is in effect regardless of weather conditions.
31:20
Vehicles in violation of this by -law will be
31:22
ticketed. For more information, visit Loyalist
31:25
.ca. For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
31:29
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
31:32
News. This has been North Shore News and Interviews.
31:39
If you have an idea for a story or want to create
31:42
stories for the show, consider joining our volunteer
31:45
team. Contact Amherst Island Radio for more details.