Fluoride to remain in Camas’ waterSubscriber Exclusive

CAMAS — Fluoride will remain in Camas’ drinking water. During a Camas City Council meeting on Monday, a motion died for lack of a second to halt the city’s 60-year-old practice of adding the naturally occurring mineral to its public drinking water system. “One of the things that elected officials have to do sometimes is make a decision for the greater good, not for an individual,” Councilor John Svilarich said. “I think fluoride in our water is good public policy, and it’s best for the overall greater good, and that’s why I think we should continue to do it.” After discussions from residents, city staff and councilors, Councilor Jennifer Senescu’s motion to approve Ordinance No. 25-004 was met with silence from her six colleagues, killing the proposal. “Our primary responsibility as a city is to provide clean drinking water, and I think Camas does that, whether it has fluoride or not,” Councilor Tim Hein said. “I believe Camas’ drinking water is safe.” Councilors John Nohr, Marilyn Boerke and Martin Elzingre said public feedback influenced their conclusions that fluoride should remain in the city’s drinking water. Nohr said that most of the residents who expressed a desire for the city to remove fluoride live outside city limits, and most of the residents who expressed a desire for the city to keep fluoride live inside city limits. “Even after I had come to a personal decision on whether or not to support fluoride in water, I said, ‘Well, what do the Camas voters want?’ ” Elzingre said. “Regardless of the way I feel, it seems clear to me that the majority of people in Camas are in favor. I’m saying that because that’s the data. The data says the majority are in favor. We counted the emails.” Senescu said the city is “walking a thin line” by putting fluoride in its drinking water, an action that she referred to as “borderline illegal.” “You can’t medicate people’s water,” she said. “Vitamin C is good for you, but (we don’t put) vitamin C in the water.” Councilor Leslie Lewallen said she didn’t know how she would’ve voted. “I could go either way on this one, truly, and I just hope that people understand the challenge in wrestling with some of these decisions. They’re not easy,” she said. During the meeting’s public comment period, the council heard from proponents who cited dental health benefits and opponents who raised concerns about potential health risks, particularly for infants. Boerke said that she was initially in favor of removing fluoride but later changed her mind. “Unfortunately, there are times when we vote our conscience and 50 percent of the people aren’t going to like it,” she said. “We’ve listened to experts and looked up all the references, and this is one that has been very challenging for me as a grandmother and a parent.” The council voted 4-2 to instruct the city’s attorney to draft the ordinance during its meeting March 17. “I don’t believe the general population should be exposed to fluoride if they don’t want to,” Hein said during the March 17 meeting. “I do believe fluoride works. I believe it should be up to those who want it to get it.” Camas Public Works Director Steve Wall said during the March 17 meeting that the city’s fluoridation program costs about $40,000 per year and that Camas adds 0.7 milligram of fluoride for every liter of public drinking water. Doug Flanagan: 360-735-4669; doug.flanagan@columbian.com

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