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Rolla council votes to start 90-day process toward removing fluoride from city water
Summary
After hours of testimony from dentists, public-health experts and residents, Rolla City Council voted to begin the legally required 90-day notice period that would allow the city to consider amending its ordinance that requires fluoridation of the municipal water supply.
Rolla City Council on Monday voted to begin the 90-day notice period that would allow the city to prepare an ordinance to reduce or remove fluoride from the municipal water supply.
The council decision follows a lengthy public discussion that included presentations from local dentists and public-health professionals, residents who said fluoridation protects children’s teeth, and others who cited recent national reviews and studies raising concerns about potential neurodevelopmental risks. City staff told the council the city has fluoridated its water since 1968 and that the current ordinance calls for 0.7 parts per million; staff said measured fluoride levels reported by the utility recently have averaged lower than that.
Why it matters: Council action does not immediately change water treatment. Under state law and city ordinance, the council must give formal notice, allow at least 90 days for public process, and then adopt any ordinance amending Chapter 35 before treatment changes. Starting the process signals the council’s intent to consider a formal change and schedules further public hearings and ordinance readings.
What happened at the meeting: Council members heard detailed statements from medical practitioners and researchers on both sides. Several speakers emphasized the role fluoride has played in reducing dental decay among children and low‑income residents, while others cited recent systematic reviews and studies that question the magnitude of benefit given contemporary dental products and raise concerns about exposure for vulnerable subpopulations.
Council discussion touched on practical points raised by staff: Rolla’s ordinance currently sets a target of 0.7 parts per million; measured levels reported by the utility have varied and, in recent reports, averaged below that target. Staff also reminded council that any future change would be implemented through a formal ordinance amendment and that water providers must follow state reporting and notification requirements.
The vote: After discussion, a majority of council members voted in favor of starting the 90‑day notice process; the council chair read the roll call and the motion passed (official roll-call details were recorded in the meeting minutes).
Next steps: The council’s vote initiates the 90‑day notification and public‑hearing sequence required before any ordinance changing fluoridation can be adopted. The city will return with an ordinance for formal readings and another vote after the notice period.
Sources: Public testimony and staff presentation during the Rolla City Council meeting on 2025‑01‑20.
