The Holmen Village Board’s approval June 13 of a contract to supply fluoridation chemicals paved the way to restart fluoridation June 25.

The board unanimously approved awarding the contract for fluoridation supplies to Hawkins Chemical, which had the low bid of 46 cents per pound. The other two bidders were at 53 cents and 76 cents per pound, and Hawkins Chemical offered a better deal on the delivery method, too.

Cost for fluoridation supplies for the remainder of the year is estimated at $3,500.

Holmen is one of the largest municipalities in Wisconsin to not add fluoride to its water supply to help prevent tooth decay. Voters approved fluoridation in a November 2008 referendum, and the village began fluoridation in April 2011.

A week after fluoridation began, it was halted after three newly elected board members, all fluoride foes, pushed through a measure to put fluoridation on hold until the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services completed a study on a preferred therapeutic fluoride level.

After the new recommended levels were released in February [not by the US DHHS], the board approved switching to a different form of fluoride that would have required spending another $80,000 to replace existing equipment. The board later reverted to the original liquid form but added a provision that another voter referendum be held next spring to give voters one more chance to weigh in on fluoridation.

Beginning June 25, a solution of hydrofluorosilicic acid containing 24 percent fluoride will be added to Holmen’s water supply at each of its four wells, with the target average concentration over a month set for 0.70 mg/L.

Fluoride levels will be monitored daily at each well, with the goal of having 75 percent of daily samples between 0.60 mg/L and 0.80 mg/L.

Questions regarding fluoridation can be directed to the Public Works Department at 526-6322.