LANCASTER — The debate over whether to put fluoridation of the city’s water on November’s general election ballot continued in City Council Monday night.

Councilman Rudy Touvell, D-6th Ward, said he was opposed to the city putting the issue on the ballot without supporters getting the required number of signatures to get it on the ballot.

Council had the second reading of legislation that would put the issue on the November ballot.

The cost to the city would be between $5,000 and $10,000, according to the city’s law director’s office.

“We only had 62 people come here and support it, why can’t they go out and get the signatures?” Touvell said.

Council President Carl Tatman said that when the issue came up in January, the council received a petition with more than 400 signatures on it.

“But they weren’t certified and not all were residents of Lancaster,” Touvell said. “If they want it, let them do the legwork.”

For the issue to get on the ballot through petition, the supporters would need to get 1,951 valid signatures, or 10 percent of the number of people who voted in the last gubernatorial election.

City Council will hold a final vote on placing the issue on the ballot during the June 14 meeting.

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