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Longwood commissioners ask staff to study ending added fluoride after Florida surgeon general guidance
Summary
Commissioners heard guidance from the Florida surgeon general urging municipalities to stop adding fluoride to public water and directed city staff to prepare options and public outreach before any change to Longwood’s water treatment.
Longwood commissioners on Jan. 20 directed city staff to return with options and a public-engagement plan after Commissioner Matt Morgan raised guidance from the Florida surgeon general recommending municipalities stop adding fluoride to drinking water.
Commissioner Matt Morgan presented the guidance and materials, saying, “It is public health malpractice to continue adding fluoride to water systems in Florida,” a phrase he quoted from the document he distributed. Morgan asked staff to outline the city’s options and next steps so the public could weigh in before any policy change.
The request prompted discussion among the other commissioners about benefits and risks. Mayor Matthew McMillan and Commissioner Abby Shoemaker said they wanted more information and public comment. Commissioner Tony Boney and Deputy Mayor Brian Sackett emphasized due process and the need for staff analysis before a final decision. Commissioners generally agreed to ask staff to prepare a presentation on what steps the city would need to take, the current level of fluoride in Longwood’s system, potential health and legal considerations, and outreach options for residents.
City staff did not present a final recommendation at the meeting. The city manager and commissioners said staff should return with the technical details and a timeline for public input, including the water department’s current fluoride levels and operational implications of stopping additives. No formal motion to change Longwood’s fluoride treatment was made or voted on at the Jan. 20 meeting.
Why it matters: Fluoride in community water systems has been a longstanding public-health policy intended to reduce tooth decay. The Florida guidance cited by Morgan urges municipalities to stop adding fluoride “out of an abundance of caution,” citing potential effects on sensitive populations. Commissioners said they want to balance those concerns with the dental-health benefits historically associated with fluoridation and to give residents an opportunity to comment before the commission takes formal action.
Next steps: Commissioners asked staff to prepare a report outlining options and a public-engagement plan and to present it at a future meeting. The commission did not set a deadline at the Jan. 20 meeting.
