MADISON – Madison City Council member Connie Spears says she has heard from numerous residents after the Madison Utilities Board voted to discontinue adding fluoride to the city’s water supply.
“I’ve had 117 emails,” said Spears. “101 of them want the fluoride to be kept in the water. I think that’s a pretty strong statement. This is the most emails I’ve ever gotten on a single subject to as a council person.”
The decision to stop supplementing the city’s water with fluoride took many by surprise. More than 20 people addressed the issue at Monday’s night’s city council meeting. While Spears is a member of the Madison Utilities Board, it operates independently of the city of Madison.
Utilities Water Manager David Moore addressed the council meeting, stating the Madison Utilities board unanimously approved the decision to halt the addition of fluoride on March 17.
Moore attributed the decision to “structural problems” and “employee health concerns.”
As of now, Madison will discontinue the addition of the chemical June 16. However, Spears said due to public feedback, she believes the board will revisit the decision.
“I don’t believe the decision is final. We may have to file some extra paperwork to get it reversed or to do paperwork to add fluoride to the water since the other paperwork isn’t in motion,” said the council member.
Spears said the board would need to vote on the issue again.
“But should the decision be that we need to continue fluoride, then I believe we can do that without any much trouble at all,” she said.
Spears said she welcomed hearing from the residents of Madison and expected a large turnout at Monday’s Madison Utilities Board meeting.
“We do welcome public input,” said Spear. “We will allow everyone who wants to speak. They get time. If you sign up beforehand, you get 5 minutes. If you sign up the night of, you get 3 minutes.
“The meeting starts at 5:30 on Monday at Madison Utilities Building.”
The next Madison Utilities board meeting is Monday at 5:30 p.m. at 101 Ray Sanderson Road.
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