Saline County Clerk Don Merriman said Thursday that workers in his office were able to verify the signatures of 988 registered Salina voters on a petition asking for a public vote on whether the city’s water fluoridation ordinance should be rescinded, so the issue will appear on the November general election ballot.

That brings the number of special questions on the November ballot to four.

Last Tuesday, Merriman said workers in his office had verified petitions calling for a vote on increasing the size of the Saline County Commission from three members to five. County voters also will decide whether the sales tax should be increased by 0.5 percent to fund a $46.5 million jail/judicial complex and parking facility. And voters statewide will be asked whether raffles should be allowed in Kansas.

Merriman, busy Thursday setting up voting booths at 34 locations throughout Saline County for Tuesday’s primary election, said by cellphone that he would be sending a letter to City Clerk Shandi Wicks, City Manager Jason Gage and the Salina City Commission late Thursday informing them that Salina voters will decide the fluoridation issue in November.

Merriman said voters will be asked if the city ordinance allowing for the addition of fluoride to the water supply should be repealed.

“If you want to repeal the ordinance you vote yes. If you want to leave the ordinance alone you vote no,” he said.

The city has been adding fluoride to the water since 1968. Salina’s latest consumer confidence report shows that in 2013, the city’s water had fluoride levels between 0.54 and 0.64 parts per million.

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