VINTON — The last regular meeting of the Vinton City council, held on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, exemplified the power of the people. Many citizens and dental and health professionals spoke up at the council meeting in regards to a New Business item on the agenda that stated, “approval of resolution to discontinue the addition of fluoride to the public water supply.”
Mayor Maynard presided over the meeting and council members Elwick, Parmater, Sellers and Stark-Mahood were present. Hessenius and Recker were absent.
Among those who spoke-up in person were Vinton resident Lois Mulvaney; Benton County iSmile Coordinator Becky Hackett; Vinton dentist Dr. Sara Stuefen; and Benton County Public Health Director Grace Schmidt. University of Iowa Professor Dr. Steven Levy also spoke to the council on Zoom. All those who spoke were opposed to discontinuing the addition of fluoride to Vinton’s public water supply, many sharing data and statistics of dental screenings for communities with and without fluoride.
Although the addition of fluoride in water has become a somewhat controversial subject in the last few years, the only side represented at the meeting was for leaving the fluoride in the water.
Since no council members moved to discuss our vote on the item, Mayor Maynard pronounced it dead, due to lack of motion.
Original article online at: https://www.communitynewspapergroup.com/newsletter/content/vinton_daily_headlines/the-community-speaks-fluoride-stays-in-the-water/article_581ccdd6-a0ca-4333-860f-812bc40593af.html