During its June 23 meeting, the Trenton City Council voted to rescind a previous motion aimed at initiating the process of ending fluoridation in the city’s municipal water system. In a subsequent decision, the council voted to continue the current practice of adding fluoride to the water supply.
The measure to rescind the motion introduced on May 13 passed with Council Member Marvin Humphreys casting the lone dissenting vote. On the follow-up motion to maintain fluoridation, council members Marvin Humphreys, Lindsay Stevens, and Bart Thomas opposed the measure, while Anna Ferguson, Glen Briggs, Angela Brill-Ely, David Mlika, and Duane Urich voted in favor.
These actions followed a public discussion that included remarks from both community members and health professionals concerning the potential cessation of water fluoridation.
Elizabeth Gibson of the Grundy County Health Department spoke in favor of continuing fluoridation, citing it as one of public health’s most significant advancements. Gibson emphasized that the absence of fluoride in public water supplies would disproportionately affect children, the elderly, and individuals living in poverty. She also connected poor dental health to broader health complications and stressed that preventative care, such as water fluoridation, is cost-effective, particularly given the high cost of dental services.
Additional support came from Paul and Andy Cox, as well as Courtney Bunnell of Cox Family Dentistry. Paul Cox, who has practiced dentistry for 39 years, reported that among his 5,000 active patients—who are not all seen annually and do not all reside in Grundy County—he had observed only two instances of dental fluorosis, both of which involved individuals using well water. He asserted that fluoride, when administered at the recommended level of 0.7 parts per million, poses no health risk, a conclusion supported by multiple scientific organizations. Cox also acknowledged the national discourse surrounding fluoridation and recognized the council’s efforts to act in the public’s best interest.
Courtney Bunnell, a dental hygienist, reflected on the June 2 public meeting, expressing concern that some speakers opposed to fluoridation lacked firsthand knowledge of its absence’s detrimental effects. She stressed that dental problems in children can have lifelong consequences and noted that fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral with proven health benefits. Bunnell urged council members to consider decades of scientific research and the needs of economically disadvantaged residents.
Luanne Oneal presented the sole public opposition during the meeting, urging the council to stop adding fluoride to drinking water and advocating for an end to its ingestion altogether. She stated she had previously provided council members with relevant documentation to review.
Council Member Lindsay Stevens inquired whether the fluoridation issue could be decided through a public referendum; however, it was noted that conducting an election would incur significant costs.
Some council members mentioned having consulted constituents, reporting a wide range of opinions: some favored fluoridation, some opposed it, and others were unaware that the city’s water was currently being fluoridated.
City Administrator and Utility Director Ron Urton confirmed that both Nestle and Grundy County Public Water Supply District Number 1 indicated their willingness to abide by the city’s final decision, regardless of the outcome.
Stevens explained she had reviewed extensive material on the topic and was not entirely opposed to fluoridation. However, she expressed concern that fluoride intake through standard water consumption could be excessive for infants, particularly when preparing baby formula with fluoridated water. She added that genetic differences and the natural presence of fluoride in both water and food must be considered. She also noted an increase in dental fluorosis cases since the 1980s.
Andy Cox acknowledged that fluoride dosage varies depending on an individual’s water consumption. Stevens concurred, noting again that fluoride is a natural element.
Council Member Glen Briggs remarked that many council votes are clear-cut, but that was not the case in this instance.
Humphreys suggested that educational materials on fluoridation should be included with utility bills, an idea Briggs supported.
Original article online at: https://www.kttn.com/v3-trenton-city-council-votes-to-continue-water-fluoridation/