A law passed by the Arkansas Legislature in 2011 requires any city that serves more than 5,000 residents to add fluoride to its drinking water. Eureka Springs purchases its water from the Carroll Boone Water District, which is preparing to comply with the state law.

Opponents to fluoridation say that fluoride poses major health risks to humans. Several residents spoke against fluoridation at Monday’s meeting.

“We cannot allow this to happen,”resident Valerie Hubbard Damon told the council. “Please, as people of influence, find a way to stall and stop this chemical warfare upon us and our grandchildren’s future. We would be derelict in our duty now to turn a blind eye. Fluoride water is poison water.”

The resolution adopted by the council asserts that the state law requiring fluoridation conflicts with other state laws protecting the health of Arkansas residents. The resolution will be sent to the Carroll Boone Water District Board.

The council also overrode a veto by Mayor Morris Pate and adopted an ordinance vacating a portion of Rock Street. The ordinance states that the city will receive and grant utility easements, giving Marble Flats LLC the opportunity to install utilities.

Instead of passing an ordinance refunding the outstanding 2008 and 2010 water sewer revenue to allow for the building of a new hospital, the council opted to propose a resolution to the Arkansas Allegiance Group LLC preceding a building contract. The resolution states that the city will support the water supply of a future hospital if Allegiance will commit to building the hospital.

Council members agreed to table further discussion on rezoning the old high school property.