WILMINGTON — During Thursday night’s council meeting, the 2017 budget was approved and passed by council, but it was not the cause of the debate — many other items on the agenda and concerns from locals were the topics of discussion.
During the water committee report, council member Lonnie Stuckert reiterated and clarified points he mentioned at the last meeting, primarily what he said is the toxicity of fluoride compared to arsenic and lead.
“Somebody put it out there that it does not exist and that it was not toxic and couldn’t find it,” Stuckert said. “I just want to start off by saying everything I say tonight I have sources to back up. If you’d like to do your own research, it’s very time-consuming, but I have already done everything for what I’m saying.”
Stuckert shared with members of the council a chart he had that displayed fluoride was more toxic than arsenic and lead. Council member Mark McKay questioned the chart and said that it was a misnomer. Stuckert responded with findings he found including by UNICEF and by Canadian dentist Dr. Hardy Limeback.
Brian Shidaker, Wilmington Safety and Service Director, said that he understood the concerns that were brought forward, but there are steps to help ensure safety.
“I want to make sure we do this absolutely correct. You don’t just dump the chemical into the water and say we fluoridated it. We are going to contract with an engineering firm; we haven’t had a board of control meeting yet, but we have the proposal,” said Shidaker.
According to Shidaker, the firm would perform a site evaluation of the water treatment facility and develop up to three alternatives to incorporate the fluoride process based on the results of the evaluation. They’ll also give recommendations and work with the Ohio Department of Health. Shidaker said it would cost $13,000 and take 45 days to do. Council member Kelsey Swindler, head of the water committee, said that this is a standard operating procedure.
In a non-binding resolution on the November ballot, a majority of residents expressed they were in favor of fluoridation.
The council approved and passed the second reading of Ordinance No. O-16-74 which would mandate the fluoridation of the public water, with a 4-3 vote, with Stuckert, Spicer, and newly sworn council member Bill Liermann voted against it.
Council also:
• Held the second and third reading and approved the 2017 city budget in a unanimous 7-0 vote during the finance committee report. The budget’s total value added up to over $41.8 million. Council member Mark McKay stated to the public, “Thank you all very much for your help and we hope to do things right in 2017.”
• During the parks and recreation committee report, a resolution was read and approved that would authorize advertising for bids for the construction of a skate park at David Williams Park. Local resident Christopher Walls advised about his concerns in regards to the size, cost, and safety of the skaters, among other concerns. Council member Mark McKay advised that Walls is invited to come and attend meetings to discuss the skate park.
• While there was no safety/transportation committee report, council member Joe Spicer expressed he was upset that he wasn’t informed soon enough about cutting the hours of the transit service. Tony Morris, Wilmington Transit Service Director, advised that during later hours many drivers are just sitting and waiting.
• During the segment open to the public, local resident Tom Brausch expressed his concerns about topics brought up during a previous streets committee involving Applegate Street and East End Elementary, and Prairie Road.
