MADISON — Monday night’s Madison City Council meeting saw more than 20 residents speak up after it was disclosed last week that Madison Utilities would discontinue adding fluoride to the city’s water supply.
A clear majority, nearly two-to-one, spoke against the utility’s move, citing overall public health. Others applauded the discontinued use of what they consider to be a dangerous chemical.
However, most of the speakers were united in opposition to Madison Utilities’ seemingly sudden decison that was made last month with no public input.
The council’s agenda was amended at the last minute to include a presentation from Madison Utilities explaining the action that took many, including most city council members, by surprise.
City Council member Ranae Bartlett said she was unaware of the utility’s decision to stop fluoridating the water supply until media reports last week.
Utilities Water Manager David Moore addressed the council, stating the Madison Utilities board unanimously approved the decision to halt the addition of fluoride on March 17.
“This does not take the fluoride out of the water,” he said. “It just does not add additional fluoride to the water. The natural fluoride will still be in the water.”
Moore said the decision was not made lightly.
“It was made based upon structural problems,” he said. “Degradation is made on employee health concerns and during the process of upgrading. You’ll see some pictures during the process of upgrading and going through an upgrade at one of the water treatment facilities here in Madison.”
Presenting numerous photos of damage to equipment he said was the result of fluoride supplementation, Moore said the cost to repair the damage would be $500,000.
Bartlett asked Moore a series of questions, including if the public had any input in the decision-making process or the March 17 meeting.
“Did you have any members of the public attend your meeting?” asked Bartlett.
“Uh, no, ma’am,” Moore responded.
Bartlett also asked if the decision was final or could be reconsidered.
Moore said, “That would be a question for the board.”
Councilman Teddy Powell reminded the public that the city council does not control the actions of the water board.
“We don’t vote on that board” said Powell. “We can’t change a vote. We can’t, we can’t do any of that. But I just want to let everyone know that.”
The residents then took to the dais to voice their concerns directly to the council and Madison Utilities.
Pediatric Dentist Dr. Brian Beitel said he’s seen the effects of non-fluoridated water first hand.
“We have to treat much more aggressively in non-fluoridated areas,” said Beitel. “Bottom line is, it is the proven fact that all the fluoridated areas have much less issues with decay.”
Madison resident Karen Thornton said they moved to Madison for the better schools and a better way of life. She said she was unconvinced by “a few photos of rust in a water treatment facility.”
“I’m concerned that this is just a cover for something that is something much worse that he’s believing the Internet lies,” she said. “The claims that fluoride is a neurotoxin, that it’s evil and wrong.
“In the wrong dose, anything will kill you, but in the right dose, it can save your life.”
A senior scientist at the Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology also spoke up.
“Fluoride is not toxic at the doses at the levels that is present in our water system” said Melanie Stoner. “We have decades, literally decades of research and data that support that, that it is perfectly safe.”
Not everyone agreed.
Madison resident Robin Grimmion called the fluoridation of water “mass medication of the population without their consent.”
“Fluoride is the only chemical added to drinking water for the purpose of medication,” said Grimmion. “Fluoride is being used as a drug.”
Rachel Homolak said she was there to express her gratitude to the city for removing the fluoride from the water.
“Not necessarily because I believe that fluoride in the water is harmful or not, but because it gives the citizens of Madison City the choice to choose what they would like to put in their bodies and their children’s bodies,” said Homolak.
The strongest public comments were reserved for Madison Utilities.
Brook Cabot questioned how a 40-minute meeting by the Madison Utilities board could be enough time to fully consider the “scope and gravity of a decision” that affects the entire city population.
“… regardless of whether or not we should or should not have fluoride, this action feels unprofessional and the opposite of transparency. And so I would expect better from the folks at Madison Utilities,” he said.
Michael Sheehy shared the concern about “the lack of a public communication campaign, and lack of prior coordination with city leaders in Madison.”
He urged Madison Utilities to take public concerns into account.
“I believe it would be advantageous for the water board and municipal leaders to pause on this action, to regroup, to establish community information forums, and then to revisit the board’s decision with fully coordinated and fully informed input,” Sheehy said.
Closing the public comments, Bartlett agreed more discussion was needed.
“I have to say, I am really disappointed in the way such an important decision was made without public input,” she said. “And I am glad residents had the opportunity to share their views in front of MU representatives tonight.”
Bartlett also shared that City Council Member Connie Spears, the council’s appointee to the Madison Utilities Board, is seeking additional public feedback and is willing to ask the board to reconsider their decision.
The next Madison Utilities board meeting is Monday at 5:30 p.m. at 101 Ray Sanderson Road.
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