DeForest board directs staff to prepare resolution to reintroduce fluoride in village water after vote

The Village of DeForest board voted on Jan. 20, 2026 to direct staff to prepare a formal resolution rescinding the village’s 2025 decision and to begin steps toward reintroducing fluoride into the municipal drinking water system.

The action followed a multi-part staff briefing on practical, regulatory and budget implications and a lengthy public comment period in which dozens of residents, clinicians and advocates urged opposite outcomes. Staff told trustees that Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources rules and the village’s configuration mean re‑introducing fluoride would require bringing the entire system into compliance rather than changing only part of it, and that some wells (notably a well in the Token Creek system) will need separation or internal upgrades. Staff estimated engineering and construction costs in the mid‑six‑figure range and said DNR‑stamped plans and a formal bidding process would be required.

Trustees debated timing, cost allocation and legal risk before a roll‑call vote. The tally was: Simpson No; Hagenhan Yes; Williams Yes; Allen No; Cords Yes; Little Yes; President Cahill‑Wolf Graham Yes. The motion passed 5–2.

Board members instructed staff to draft the resolution that would rescind Resolution 2025‑0001 and to return with the procedural steps needed to reintroduce fluoride, including a recommended budget approach and potential funding sources. Trustees also asked staff to research and report back on measures to help residents who prefer to avoid fluoridated water (for example options for home filtration assistance or targeted alternatives), and to identify available grants that cover internal well equipment where applicable.

What staff told the board: Staff emphasized two compliance constraints. First, DNR review requires stamped engineering drawings and certification for any changes to treatment facilities; second, if the village reintroduces fluoride it must do so for systems that serve customers under DNR rules (staff said partial reintroduction to only one pressure zone would not meet regulatory requirements). Staff’s preliminary cost estimate for well upgrades and separation work ranged roughly from $200,000 to $245,000 for the immediate internal work cited in the presentation; additional costs for tower, booster or larger mechanical work could increase that total. Staff noted a small reimbursement grant exists for internal equipment but it does not cover design, construction or DNR plan fees.

Public comment: Dozens of speakers addressed the trustees before the vote. Residents and several clinicians quoted studies and court rulings on both sides of the question — some citing recent federal litigation and European agency notices as reasons not to re‑add fluoride, others emphasizing public‑health endorsements and equity benefits of community fluoride for childhood dental decay. Several speakers urged slow, transparent deliberation and additional community engagement; others argued the village should move quickly to restore an established public‑health measure.

Next steps: Staff will prepare the formal resolution for board consideration at a future meeting, include an agenda that details costs, timelines, regulatory steps and funding options, and present options to protect or assist residents who prefer not to ingest fluoridated water. No final budget appropriation was made at the Jan. 20 meeting.