One year after voters cast their ballots in the municipal election, there have been mixed results when it comes to the key issues of LRT, amalgamation and fluoridation.

The three major issues sparked heated debates, protests and campaigns in Waterloo Region.

The most contentious was likely the plan to bring light rail transit to the region, and it remains a hot button issue as planning continues.

The project was approved in June after marathon meetings, and some councillors are relieved the project is finally moving forward.

Regional Councillor Jim Wideman says "I've been in politics for about 25 years and there's no question that this is the highlight of my career in terms of the achievement."

On the other hand some are only reluctantly accepting the result of the vote.

Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran says "We are moving forward with those discussions and implementation and that's the way of the future for this community."

The next step for the LRT project is hiring more staff to ensure construction begins on time in 2014.

While LRT moves forward, the idea of amalgamation talks has been stopped dead in its tracks.

While voters in Kitchener cast their ballots in favour of talks, Waterloo residents opposed the idea.

Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr says "It's off the table and I'm not spending any energy whatsoever in trying to revive that at the present time."

He says while cooperation in the region is good, keeping the Maple Leaf plant might have been easier if the cities had amalgamated and been able to speak with one voice.

On the fluoridation issue however, there is now unity in the region.

Waterloo has turned off the fluoride in its tap water, bringing it in line with Kitchener and Cambridge, which do not fluoridate tap water.

Despite a narrow vote, regional councillors decided unanimously to support the 'no' decision.

But controversy over the campaign by the Ontario Dental Association in favour of maintaining fluoridation continues.

The association has been charged for failing to properly register to campaign and is expected to appear in court in December.