Does Madison's Water Contain Fluoride? There is opposition to ending it, therefore the decision may not be final.

Although the Madison Utilities board unanimously decided in March to discontinue the addition of the mineral, which has been used for decades to help prevent tooth decay, at least one city council member is indicating that the board's decision may still be overturned, particularly if enough citizens voice their opposition.

The decision to stop fluoridation, which is scheduled to go into effect on June 16, has sparked a lot of debate and anxiety about the decision-making process as well as the potential health effects.

Madison Utilities' water manager, David Moore, spoke to the city council Monday night and clarified that the decision to stop fluoridation was not reached hastily.

Moore stated that fluoridation had resulted in severe corrosion within one of the city's water treatment facilities, adding that "it was based on structural problems, degradation, and employee health concerns." According to reports, inspectors discovered "extremely substantial, costly damage," and Moore calculated that the cost of repairs and improvements would be close to $500,000.

Additionally, he noted that other Alabama towns, such as Russellville and Arab, have already removed fluoride from their water supplies. The strategy, which has been a pillar of U.S. public health policy since the 1960s, is being revived by an increasing number of utility systems around the country.

However, although infrastructure and cost concerns are important, so is the issue of transparency, which is where Madison Utilities is currently under pressure.

Moore was questioned by Councilor Ranae Bartlett, who attended the meeting on Monday, on the board's decision and who was notified. Moore said that until after the vote, no one at City Hall had been informed, including the mayor, the entire council, and the city administrator.

Moore stated, "Miss Spears was there," alluding to Councilor Connie Spears, the council's designated representative on the Madison Utilities board.

Bartlett responded, "Well, she was there, but I am talking about the city administrator, city council, and mayor's office - did anybody know that you all had done that?"

"No, ma'am, we did not tell anyone," Moore said.

Residents were not pleased with that discovery, and during public remarks, a number of them expressed their annoyance. About two dozen people attended, which is a sizable number for a city council meeting, and the majority of them voiced surprise at the decision to remove fluoride as well as how silent it was made.

Former council member and former water board liaison Tim Holcomb was blunt when he said, "No public input, nobody knew anything about it … This is the most heinous decision I can think of, and it came out of nowhere.

Councilor Spears was traveling with Council President John Seifert and Mayor Paul Finley on city business, therefore she was unable to attend the meeting on Monday. But according to Bartlett, Spears had requested council members' assistance in determining public opinion. Spears is prepared to request that the board reconsider the choice if enough locals get in touch with her.

Although Madison Utilities is technically a separate entity from the municipal government, the latter does have some supervision and designate board members. Since Madison sells wholesale water to Huntsville, which is required by city statute to include fluoride in its supply, any reversal is likely to raise more significant legal and practical issues.

The public's reaction could determine whether this turns into a protracted conflict or a swift course correction. And that response is growing for the time being.