The City of Two Rivers will decide whether to keep a chemical in its drinking water.
During their work session on Monday, the city council decided to vote on keeping or removing fluoride from the water at their next regular council meeting next Monday (September 8th).
City Manager Kyle Kordell told the council the decision doesn’t have to do with money, but whether the practice is needed. Some in the scientific community say there may be concerns about fluoride in the water for very young people.
But the evidence is conclusive.
Water Director Andrew Sukowaty told the city council he asked four questions of some Wisconsin communities that have gotten rid of fluoride.
They include why they stopped adding it, whether they follow up, and whether those in the dental field reach out.
Sukowaty says the fourth question received the largest number of responses, with residents in those cities saying they approved of removing the fluoride.
“There was very positive feedback, but it was in regard to the residents expressing appreciation for actually discontinuing (the program),” he explained. “None of these communities got any responses in regard to actually continuing to add fluoride.”
Two Rivers city council members shared what they’ve researched since the discussion began earlier this month.
Both Adam Wachowski and Katherine Dahlke believe in taking it out.
“You make a choice on what you want to put into your body,” Wachowski said. “With putting fluoride in the water, we aren’t making a choice whether or not we want to ingest fluoride or not. We are being forced.”
Dahlke agreed, adding, “As taxpayers in the city, if there’s a predominant number of taxpayers who say, ‘I really don’t want this. It’s something that I can’t avoid drinking.’”
Other council members like Darla LeClaire felt it was best to keep it in for now.
“Follow the science. I think we should just stay status quo until there’s a definitive answer, and then we can make an informed decision,” she said. “Because right now…it’s informed, but maybe it’s using information that isn’t correct.”
If the council votes to stop adding fluoride to their drinking water, it would make them the 14th community in Wisconsin to do so.
It would also save the City $12,000 annually.
