Gravel pits, Airport Road and Mansfield water problems were among the most pressing issues cited Saturday morning when close to 100 Mulmur ratepayers at Terra Nova heard from two mayoral and five other council candidates, along with the acclaimed deputy mayor.

The proposed gravel pit - at the present Arbour (Christmas tree) Farms - weighs heavily on the minds of residents, largely because it would create heavy truck traffic on an already congested Airport Road that, of itself, presents traffic hazards mainly because of the hilly terrain.

Mansfield water is a continuing financial problem for users as the provincial and federal grant program is refusing to acknowledge that the required watermain qualifies for funding assistance - hence some residents have been forced to pay more than $12,000 beyond what they and the present council consider to be justified.

In a question period that followed the opening speeches from candidates, the public was concerned as well with closed-door meetings, property assessments, wind farms and roads, among other things.

All candidates in their opening statements were opposed to a gravel pit on Airport Road, and their opposition continued when resident Bob Duncanson raised the issue in the question period. Both mayoral candidates, Gord Montgomery and Paul Mills, objected to the pit on the basis principally of new hazards on Airport Road. Acclaimed deputy mayor Sue Snider cited the hilly terrain and a dangerous mix of school buses and gravel trucks as unacceptable. Council candidate Rhonda Campbell Moon, a volunteer firefighter in addition to her self-employment, spoke of the number of collisions she'd been called to on "this unusually dangerous" roadway.

Council candidate Bill Weir, although adamantly opposed to a gravel pit, suggested it was being fought on the wrong battleground.

"Depending on who's right or wrong, an Ontario Municipal Board hearing would be costly," and, he said, if the pit were to win OMB approval, the township could be held responsible for providing an adequate road.

Other councillors cited other reasons why the pit should not be approved, including gravel quality and the number of existing pits in adjacent townships. Incumbent councillor Jeff Sedgwick also raised the issue of water at the pit.

Provincial property assessments came under fire from the gallery as the cause of tax hikes. Mr. Mills responded that tax increases "are driving people off the land," and candidate Earl Hawkins described MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corp.) as "another example of things taken out of local hands."

Ms. Snider told the crowd she's fighting MPAC, as "there's a $200,000 difference" between a professional appraisal and MPAC's assessment of her property. Similarly, Ms. Campbell Moon said the MPAC assessment of her property is double what she paid for it recently.

One resident objected to Mulmur's paving program on the basis that traffic travels faster on paved roads. "Speeds increase when (roads are) paved. It's dangerous for horses and bicycles," the resident said. She asked about the costs of paving versus maintaining gravel.

Candidate Murray Sheardown said the value of paving would depend on traffic counts. Mr. Sedgwick said there should be "strategic paving" based on a longrange plan. Mr. Weir said Mulmur has 180 miles of roads, and paving is progressing at the rate of two miles a year. "It will be 75 years before your road is paved," he said in a remark that drew laughter from the crowd.

A Mansfield resident evoked visions of Third- World natives toting buckets of water from the nearest source when Ms. Snider said that the federal provincial funding program would not subsidize a watermain for the new system in the hamlet. "Are we supposed to take buckets (to the well)?," she said, while objecting to paying "for something that was not needed" or needed only because of the lethal water contamination at Walkerton.

Mr. Mills said the township is "working on the government for assistance" as both the feds and the province are paying only "one-half of their one-third (each)" of the costs of the new Mansfield water system. In the meantime, he said, the township is "absorbing interest on" costs not qualified for the grant.

Responding to resident Tom McFarland's query about wind farms, candidates were unanimous in their support of "green energy" but with some reservations, and possibly some hedging.

Mr. Hawkins said the "windmills" are "a wonderful thing, but there's a place for them." He described the Melancthon/ Amaranth sites as "flat land, swamp land." Mr. Montgomery said "green energy is important," but he and Ms. Snider cited Bill 51 as potentially taking away the choice of the township to decide. "We have to look at what's environmentally friendly," said Ms. Snider.

John Franklin, a longtime political figure in the township, drew applause when he said he'd "heard negative comments" from the candidates, but "what new and creative ideas do you have to make life better? What's your vision?"

Mr. Mills said he favours countywide discussions among all councillors "to bounce ideas" among the municipalities.

Mr. Montgomery would "maintain the pristine area" that is the township.

Ms. Snider would "fight for the lifestyle we have; we need to be safe when biking and horse riding."

Ms. Campbell-Moon said, "the vision is here. We need to be creative in keeping things the same."

Mr. Hawkins said his family has been in the township for five generations, and he intends to stay. He said he would "cut down on severances."

Mr. Sedgwick would preserve the environment. "Creativity and innovation are not the monopoly of five (council members); create opportunities for people to be involved. And we have to sharpen our pencils."

Mr. Weir said candidates "can all make promises, but it takes three out of five (members) to carry a vote."

Mr. Franklin wondered why no one had suggested having townhall meetings throughout the coming four-year term.