While City pens notice of notice of flouride removal until 2017...

Are some local dentist trying to make the council go back on their word?


During their meeting on Tuesday, the council decided to release the following statement online to Port Angeles residence regarding the temporally stoppage of adding fluoride to the city water supply.
The proposed statement reads:
On August 2nd, 2016, the Port Angles Water Utility stopped adding fluoride to the City’s drinking water as directed by the City Council. Fluoridation will be suspended until the question is placed on the City ballot in November 2017. Individuals and families should consult their dentist or primary care provider to discuss their dental health and their specific fluoride needs. This notice affects all customers of the Port Angeles Water Utility.
According to the staff memo provided:
At the Council meeting of August 2, 2016, Council voted to end fluoridation of the City’s water
supply until an advisory vote on the question of fluoridation could be conducted during the 2017 Municipal General Election. On August 16th , Council members Bruch and Gase were appointed to a subcommittee asked to would work with Dr. Chris Frank, the Clallam County Public Health Officer, on drafting a notification to citizens. Council members Gase and Bruch met with Dr. Frank on September 2nd and subsequently presented a draft statement to the full Council at its regular meeting on September 6th.

During the public comment session the leading pro fluoride proponent Dr. Scott Kennedy, who is also the OMC Chief Medical operating officer, spoke on the decision of the city council to stop adding fluoride to the water system. I don't know if he was trying to sway the council decision to put this to a vote on the November ballot or not, but something about what he said during his testimony during the council meeting led me to think that was what he was doing, to change the council's mind in putting the decision of continuing adding fluoride to the voters, who he regards as unqualified to make such decisions. That what he was implying during another time during the heated debate months ago. You will have to listen to the video clip yourselves and see if his tone was that of trying to sway the council away from their decision back in August. He basically told the council that now that they stop adding fluoride to the water system people are not being cared for properly in regards to dental hygiene. It's the old ploy that folks are to dumb to brush their teeth and use mouth wash, or can't afford to get tooth paste in the first place. Which I think it's really condescending if you ask me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVwDJd6Cokw (see video clip of council open comment session starting on 15:53 time line.)
(You can adjust the sound quality using Chrome using this method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5cen9qkM2c )
I tell you if the council backs out of their decision to move this vote forward to the November ballot in 2017, there will be a ground swell of furry locally. I imagine the pro fluoride folks would hope that would come to pass. What I don't get are some who are against adding fluoride are expressing doubts about the vote and would hope the council will change their minds. Talk about shooting ones self in the foot readers!

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