Poseyville council to end water fluoridation, adopts updated water service rules

The Poseyville Town Council on Sept. 9 adopted Ordinance No. 2025-09-09-01, an update to the town's Water Service Regulations, and voted to discontinue fluoridation of the municipal water supply effective Oct. 10, 2025.

Council President Justin Rutledge and Council Member Mike Baehl voted to approve the consolidated Water Service Regulations, which the council said updates several older town ordinances (some dating back to 1939). Mike Baehl stated the ordinance does not raise base water rates; it adjusts charges tied to reconnections after a disconnect for nonpayment or voluntary/seasonal disconnections. The ordinance is scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, 2025.

At the same meeting the council adopted Resolution 2025-09-09-02 to discontinue adding fluoride to the town's drinking water, with the resolution specifying public notice will be given on the town website and Facebook page and the discontinuation effective Oct. 10, 2025. The resolution passed on a recorded roll-call vote in which Rutledge and Baehl voted yes.

The council also accepted the first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-10-15-01, which ties the town's gas utility monthly rate to actual operating costs based on a recent operational-cost study conducted by U.S.D.I.; the first reading was approved and the ordinance lists an effective date of Nov. 1, 2025. No final vote on the gas ordinance occurred at this meeting.

Utility staff reported work to install radio-read water meters that will provide hourly usage logs and automated alerts to help detect leaks before monthly billing cycles. Mr. Farrar told the council that current meters remain functional but are being replaced with radio-read units as problems arise. Clerk-Treasurer Jodie Rankin said replacement radio units cost about $220 with covers at about $25 and that the utility bills customers for damage when replacements are required.

Council members discussed a pending Nix Industries parking-lot project that will require relocation of a gas line on Frontage Road; Mr. Farrar estimated relocation costs at about $10,000. Rankin said funds could come from the town Depreciation Fund or be deducted from Nix Industries' current sewer abatement; President Rutledge said he would contact the company. No formal vote was recorded on that item.

The council closed the meeting after addressing routine business and scheduling its next meeting for Oct. 15, 2025.