Committee forwards fluoride ordinance change to council, citing Wisconsin standard

The Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee voted to recommend that the common council repeal and recreate City of Monroe Code section 8.410 so the municipal ordinance reflects the Wisconsin administrative code standard for fluoride levels.

"This is Administrator Windy and so this comes from, continued recommendations, latest from Board of Public Works, to modify the current city code for fluoridation to be consistent with basically Wisconsin State statutes, for the amount that is fluoridated," Administrator Windy said, describing the staff recommendation to align city code with state guidance. Committee members said the change would codify the level the city's water plant already uses.

The motion to forward the ordinance to the common council was moved by a committee member and seconded; the clerk called the roll and the motion passed. Staff said the common council will set a public hearing and vote on the ordinance at the Feb. 18 council meeting. Staff also said that while the ordinance would reference the state standard, actual product choice and operational implementation would be handled by the Board of Public Works and water operations staff.

Committee discussion touched on whether to reference CDC guidance or state statute; staff said the proposed language follows the Wisconsin administrative code and that the Environmental Protection Agency, not the FDA, regulates municipal drinking water. The committee asked staff to gather vendor information and options about different fluoride products and report back to the Board of Public Works before the council hearing.

The committee's recommendation will be placed on the council agenda for a Feb. 18 public hearing and vote.