USA - McK fluoridation on hold pending study

McK fluoridation on hold pending study – July 24, 2007
Jack DurhamMad River Newspaper Guild
McKINLEYVILLE – Plans to fluoridate McKinleyville’s water supply are on hold pending the outcome of a study being conducted by the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District.
A divided board of the McKinleyville Community Services District voted 3-2 at its Wednesday, July 18, meeting to accept and file a report from its Fluoride Committee and to wait to take any further action until the HBMWD study is completed, which could take months.
That study will look at the feasibility of the HBMWD adding fluoride to the region’s water supply. The HBMWD is the wholesale water supplier for the communities of McKinleyville, Fieldbrook, Blue Lake, Arcata, Manila, Eureka and Cutten. Of those communities, only Arcata and Eureka fluoridate their water supply.
‘Not clear’
The decision to wait for the results of the study was opposed by MCSD Directors John Corbett and Bill Wennerholm, both of whom voiced support for adding fluoride and wanted the district to move forward with a plan of action.
“I strongly oppose the motion,” Corbett told his fellow boardmembers, explaining that it didn’t clearly state the MCSD’s position on fluoridation or give staff direction on how to proceed.
“I’m against this motion because it’s not clear,” commented Wennerholm, who said he wanted fluoride added to the water supply because there’s overwhelming scientific evidence that doing so is safe and beneficial to dental health.
‘Relax a bit’
MCSD Director Ron Coffman defended his motion to wait for the study and urged everyone to “relax a bit.”
“The point of this motion is not to throw it in the trash can,” Coffman said. “....It’s not getting shelved. This is a process of gathering information.”
Coffman’s motion eventually passed with the support of Directors Javan Reid and Jeff Dunk, but not before the board heard an earful from both proponents and opponents of fluoridation.McKinleyville resident John White testified about the history of fluoridation and how it’s been proven to be beneficial to communities.
Similar comments were made by Harry Johnson DDS, and Ann Lindsay, the county’s public health officer.
Their views were refuted by opponents of fluoride, who described it as a hazardous substance and argued that they should not be forced to consume it against their will.
Both sides?
Others questioned the makeup of the MCSD’s Fluoride Committee, which met July 5 and unanimously recommended that fluoride be added to the town’s water supply. The committee suggested that the HBMWD add fluoride to the region’s water supply. If that can’t be done, then the MCSD should add fluoride to its own water supply, the committee recommended.
When the MCSD board agreed to create a committee late last year, the idea was to have committee members representing both sides of the issue.
But it turned out that all the members of the Fluoride Committee – assembled by MCSD President Reid – were in favor of fluoridation and, after a single meeting, they voted unanimously in support of the recommendation.
Putting Ann Lindsay on the committee was like “fixing a horse race,” said fluoride opponent Daniel Pierce.