Leesburg commissioners were split Monday night on a controversial and costly measure to add fluoride to the city’s drinking water.
The commission had voted to implement the system last January and had spent approximately $225,000 on the project. Commissioner Jay Connell had asked that the commission reconsider the project when the Florida surgeon general issued a recommendation that cities should avoid adding fluoride to their water. Also in November, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who may head the Department of Health and Human Services said that President-elect Donald Trump would push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office.
City Manager Al Minner outlined three possible actions the commission could take:
• Termination, which would mean the city will lose approximately $225,000 in construction costs and the $80,000 design fee;
• Pausing the project which would allow time to see if government regulations change
• Or proceed with the construction.
Three citizens urged the commission to shut the project down as they believed it would endanger children. Three local dentists spoke in favor of the project and all three pointed out that the therapeutic use of fluoride has been proven to prevent cavities and that 70 percent of communities in the United States inject fluoride into their water systems.
Commissioner Mike Pederson made a motion to continue the project.
Commissioner Connell said it “was plain crazy to go forward when other Florida towns are closing their fluoride systems.” Pederson’s motion passed on a 3-2 margin with commissioners Connell and Alan Reisman voting to end the project.