The Jonesborough Board of Mayor and Aldermen began the discussion about possibly removing fluoride from the town’s water system at Monday’s meeting, but the board requires public input before officially making the decision.

During the discussion, some board members expressed support in discontinuing the use of fluoride, citing health and financial concerns. According to information provided in the board’s agenda, the town spends about $12,000 a year adding fluoride to drinking water. Mayor Kelly Wolfe and other board members also voiced concerns of an over-indulgence in fluoride with modern toothpaste and the fluoride that naturally occurs in water.

“I researched this, and from what I read there’s absolutely no benefit now in having that in drinking water,” Alderman David Sell said. “Actually, it’s kind of dangerous almost, and it’s costly.”

Although the board took no action on the matter at Monday night’s meeting, they voted to continue the discussion and scheduled a public hearing in two months for Jonesborough residents to weigh in on possibly removing fluoride from the water system. The hearing will precede the board’s scheduled meeting on June 13 at 7 p.m…

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