A candidate meeting targeted to Ward 1 voters last week wasn’t solely focussed on development and servicing in Nottawa.

Six questions on the topics of transparency, privatization of utilities, pedestrian and cycling safety, traffic, speeding and extended snowplough hours to facilitate late night shipping of livestock in winter were asked of the candidates running for mayor, deputy mayor and Ward 1 during the meeting hosted by the Nottawa Area Residents Association (NARA) – a group fused by concerns around the impact of a 500-home development by Georgian Communities adjacent to the McKean subdivision and the impact it may have on its water supply.

NARA has not been coy about wanting new representation.

Heather Larke asked incumbent Phyllis Dineen, asking on behalf of her husband, “What have you accomplished for Ward 1 in the past four years?”

“I have been there every time someone has asked me for something specifically, I have dealt with it,” responded Dineen.

Dineen was called out for not having met with NARA members.

“We were not to attend those meetings because it could be a legal situation for us and we were advised not to attend,” replied Dineen, to applause.

Opponent Craig Houghton said, “I would have to follow legal advice but I don’t see how meeting with an association of residents is any way a conflict of interest in fact I think that’s of paramount interest to understanding the topic,” also getting applause.

Lousie McCartney-West asked the question she said she has raised at every election since opening D&L Family Variety Store in 1999.

“Our village has been waiting for years to get a promised water source for residents in Nottawa to have good potable water,” said West, referencing wells, or pipeline. “Given the new plan for the current developer to take water directly from the Nottawa aquifers my question then is, can we expect a solution from Clearview in the very near future that would benefit all the residents, especially those that rely on shallow dug wells and would Clearview have the developer pay their fair share to provide water for the community and not just their development?”

She also asked about accessing grants to fund the water supply.

Mayoral candidate Robert McArthur said funding is the only way it’s going to happen, otherwise the cost is unmanageable, adding he would push for it.

Incumbent Doug Measures agreed saying those provincial grants are actually quite difficult to get but he would try.