IDA GROVE, Iowa – After nearly 50 years of fluoride in urban water supplies, Ida Grove City Council narrowly voted Monday to stop the controversial practice.
Over the past few months, city guides and residents have debated whether fluoride in water is an effective way to reduce tooth decay or pose health risks to the public. About half of the residents expressed their opinion on this topic in a survey recently distributed via the city bills. According to the town clerk’s office, a majority of those questioned were in favor of no further fluoridation step.
In 1971 city officials began adding river silica, most recently in the form of liquid droplets, to the water supply for the city of Ida County, which has 2,142 residents. The council voted 3-2 to end the practice, with councilors Scott Tomlinson, Ryan Goodman and Gregor Ernst supporting the motion and councilors Paul Cates and Doug Clough voting against.
Starting last summer, Ida Grove’s Christie Van Houten spoke out against fluoride at council meetings and shared numerous posts on the subject on her Facebook page.
Van Houten created a link to an online survey that included the excerpt: “Fluoridation of water enables the government to administer mass medication. Doctors cannot do this to individual patients. In other words, would you allow your neighbor to decide what medication should you take? ” (even if it is against your will)? “
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