It took a phone call from Montgomery for Arab officials and residents to learn that Arab Water Works stopped adding fluoride to its tap water.

Granted, the Arab Water Works board of directors’ meetings are open to the public, though they are rarely attended. The water board voted 3-0 to follow manager Ted Hyatt’s recommendation to stop adding fluoride.

Arab dentist John York received a phone call a day or two after Labor Day from Dr. Robert Meador, the dental health director of the Alabama Department of Public Health.

To say that he is upset and concerned about the move, as are many local physicians, dentists, pharmacists and parents is an understatement.

“He wanted to know if I was aware that, as of Aug. 1, Arab Water Works no longer was providing community water fluoridation for its customers,” York said. “I was shocked, to say the least.”

York said he also was shocked when he contacted city officials and none of them knew anything about the change.

For more on the AWW’s action, read Wednesday’s Arab Tribune.

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