CLEARFIELD — At its November meeting, members of Clearfield Municipal Authority will determine whether the authority’s scheduled water treatment plant upgrade will include the means to add fluoride to drinking water.

Since mid-summer, members have been mulling whether to include fluoride in plans to rehabilitate the Montgomery water filtration and treatment system.

Authority Engineer Jim Balliet of Gwin, Dobson & Foreman Inc., Altoona, asked members earlier this year to consider discontinuing adding the chemical compound to its drinking water treatment process. He reported finding a trustworthy supply of fluoride that is readily available is becoming more difficult and increasingly expensive.

He also noted the substance is very corrosive to a treatment plants components and added that would create additional future expense for the authority.

The authority will need to make a determination soon on whether fluoride will continue as design plans for the new treatment system need to be finalized.

During the summer, the authority asked members of the public to comment whether they were in favor of continuing fluoride treatment to aid members in the board’s coming decision.

Over the past several months, the authority received letters representing pros and cons and heard at meetings from several people who advocate for residents’ health or care for their teeth. All spoke in favor of the authority continuing the practice.

Chairman Russ Triponey said told members at the authority’s recent meeting, “Come prepared to vote at the next meeting.” The authority’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 4 p.m.

In other business, the authority approved a contract with Manager Rich Lopez.

Triponey said Lopez had served for nine years as its foreman, before he was hired in January 2023 to serve as the authority’s manager.

Triponey said previously the authority did not have a written agreement with Lopez. He said under the terms of the new pact Lopez will receive an annual salary of $75,000.

“We are lucky to have him. He does a good job for us,” Triponey said.

Following an approximately 45-minute executive session for personnel matters, Lopez announced negotiations had wrapped up with the employees’ union. Members voted to approve a new contract with workers, depending on the union’s approval of the agreement.

Members said the workers would vote the week of Oct. 14 on the pact.

Original article online at: https://www.theprogressnews.com/news/municipal-authority-to-make-decision-on-fluoride-treatment-next-month/article_0636f76e-8fe1-11ef-ad1e-1ba57796457c.html