CENTERVILLE — The city will go ahead with the fluoridation of its community water supplies, despite the fact that the measure won by less than a 1 percent margin within the city.
Opponents of fluoridation are arguing that margin is too close, but City Council members feel different.
The City Council said the voters' decision — both for Davis County as a whole and also within the city — will be implemented and the city's water will be fluoridated.
In September, the council discussed whether to take legal action before the Nov. 7 election to ensure that if city residents voted differently than the county their vote would take precedence.
According to official election results, Davis County voters passed the proposition by a margin of 52 to 48 percent. In Centerville, 3,244 voted for fluoridation, 3,199 against.
"I feel the citizens have spoken," said Randy Randall, public works director. "We need to find out what we do now to fluoridate our system and do it safely and properly."
Centerville is one of few Davis County cities that depends mainly on city wells, raising the question of whether the city is actually functionally separate from other water sources.
About 75 percent of the city's water comes from wells within the city, the other 25 percent from Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. The city could rely solely on the wells, making the system independent from all others, city officials say. The city also does its own water testing and rating.
Several residents have expressed their dismay over the close vote and the fact the city will go along with the county, and urged the council to reconsider fluoridation.
"An election has taken place, and this body does not have the authority to change it," council member David Gill said.
The council agreed to have staff explore possible funding sources and to study the various products available and other aspects of implementation.
Councilwoman Nancy Smith expressed some concern over the different cost estimates given by the county Board of Health and Centerville city. The Board of Health estimates the cost of fluoridation will be less than $2 per person per year, and Centerville city water engineers have estimated it will cost up to $31 per household per year to fluoridate.
"Will the county subsidize the difference?" she asked.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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