USA - Future of fluoride study for Spokane’s water remains uncertain

 The Spokane City Council and Mayor Nadine Woodward are at an impasse over a grant-funded study about adding fluoride to the municipal water system.

The city has the money in hand to study fluoridation of its water, but Mayor Nadine Woodward has refused to spend it, citing concerns about strings attached to the grant and whether voters will be given a say before fluoride is added.

“From the administration’s perspective, this remains an open conversation that still needs to be revisited,” city spokeswoman Marlene Feist said in an email Wednesday.

The Spokane City Council – which accepted the grant to fund the study and design of a fluoridation system by a 6-to-1 vote in September – appears poised to play hardball.

The council abandoned a resolution Monday that would have committed to withholding funding for Woodward’s own projects until she signs off on a study of fluoride, but only because Council President Breean Beggs said the council’s message was made clear without the resolution.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,