WILMINGTON — The city won’t be rushing into the fluoridating of its water supply.
“I want everybody to be on the same page,” Safety/Service Director Brian Shidaker said during Thursday night’s council meeting. I want council, the citizens, and the administration to know the timeline on this. Fluoride is not going to be introduced overnight. This is going to take some time.”
Shidaker said the city has the preliminary designs and estimate, now they’re into the design stage with engineers. He said they’ve already appropriated money into the engineer’s budget.
“I don’t like coming to council and just giving a ballpark figure. I know we have the $315,000. Once the final designs are completed, then I will be requesting additional funding to implement the program based on a real number, not just an estimate. That’s going to take time,” said Shidaker.
He said the prefabricated structure, which will house the bulk storage tank containing the fluoride, would take up to five to six months to build. After speaking with engineers, he said they won’t be introducing fluoride until “this time next year.”
“I want everyone to understand, this isn’t something that’s going to happen immediately. And when it is going to happen, we will make sure the public and everyone is aware of the date when this is happening.”
Shidaker then addressed a discussion he had with county commissioners Wednesday about the sound stage.
“I saw it as a very open and honest conversation between the commissioners and the city. The bottom line is that the 15-year agreement has expired,” said Shidaker.
He said the city-owned stage needs some repairs and what it may cost to order a new stage.
“I’m sure we’re going to work something out. Whether that’s getting a new stage or doing repairs on the stage we currently have,” said Shidaker.
Also at council:
• Mayor John Stanforth swore in Ashley Dunn as the newest officer of the Wilmington Police Department.
• In his report, Stanforth announced that Lori Williams is retiring as Parks and Recreation Director. “She is such an asset to our city.”
• During the Judiciary Committee report, there was a first reading of an ordinance requesting the Director of Public Service to present an annual report of utility billing rates to the legislative authority.
• During the Safety/Transportation Committee report, a resolution was passed authorizing the submittal of a proposal and all understanding for a grant through US DOT Federal Transit.
