Joe Hornaday
Water droplets pounded the ground and buildings outside while the Greensburg Water Board addressed fluoride, a dump truck and chemical bids inside City Hall at their regular meeting Tuesday night.
Water superintendent Rick Denney re-addressed the issue of adding fluoride treatments to city water, continuing the discussion from the last meeting. He explained that he had received several e-mails from concerned citizens, and had spoken to doctors since. According to the Centers for Disease Control, fluoride treatments are not harmful, Denney reported.
Following his investigation into the matter, it was Denney’s recommendation that the city re-start feeding the fluoride treatments, putting the city’s fluoride levels at about one part per million. Naturally, Greensburg water has about .3 or .4 parts per million fluoride.
Mayor Gary Herbert noted that he had received numerous e-mails regarding the issue, just like Denney had, providing both arguments for and against fluoride.
Denney said that state regulators had recently backed off of wastewater superintendent Jeff Smith, who had reported high levels of contaminants that had caused concern. When the MCLs (maximum contaminant levels) reached a certain limit, Smith could be fined. That wasn’t much of a concern since the state began utilizing a monthly average instead.
Based on the last year and a half, Smith’s levels would likely stay in the limits set, Darren Burkhart of HNTB reported. He said that the issue does not appear to be as big as previously thought. Denney noted that he hoped to do what was in the best interest of the water consumers.
Water Board member John Wall presented several articles, each from a credible source and each with a different interpretation of the effects of fluoride. He noted that he was not sure what to do, and said that a decision would be difficult with so many different opinions.
Denney said that the yearly cost for fluoride treatments is about $16,000 to $18,000. Burkhart added that he believed the benefits of fluoride outweighed any potential negatives. Wall suggested contacting the Decatur County Board of Health, and said that he was interested in obtaining a local opinion and perspective.
“I’m frankly just lost on it,” Wall said.
The Water Board agreed to table the issue and investigate further. Wall noted that one more month without fluoride shouldn’t cause too much tooth decay.
Mayor Herbert came before the Water Board to address another issue. He had been in contact with H.G. Umbaugh regarding the capital investments assessment, largely focused on water rates for Greensburg residents. The board members agreed that the matter required investigation, and Herbert said a special meeting might be required. Herbert also noted that he anticipated something happening regarding the water rates in the future.
The Water Board had previously looked at Denney’s requests for a second dump truck at the water department. Initially, Denney had reported that a cost of just more than $4,000 would be required to re-build the motor on the 1986 International. Recently, he discovered that about $2,500 more would be required. When he asked if it was reasonable to put that kind of money into an old dump truck, Denney said he was laughed at.
A new dump truck would cost about $16,350, Denney explained. That included the installation of the old truck bed onto a newer 2003 truck. There are times when the water department needs two dump trucks, Denney said, and left the decision up to the board.
Water Board president Chuck Storie asked what kind of trade-in value the old truck might garner, but Denney wasn’t sure and said he would see if he could get anything for it. Still, Denney wasn’t positive it was entirely necessary to spend $16,000 on something that is used three or four times a month. Mayor Herbert suggested finding out how much it would cost to buy the truck straight without installing the old truck bed. Board member Frank Massey added another suggestion, and recommended seeing how things progress over the summer.
The Water Board next opened chemical bids from five chemical companies for the necessary products at the water treatment plant. Denney said he would create a more comprehensible spreadsheet for the board to discuss at the next meeting in July.
Burkhart provided the board with a brief update on the water projects, and announced that the Water Treatment Plant expansion was substantially complete, which the board approved unanimously. Burkhart added that the wastewater treatment plant was nearing the end of its construction addition, and that the new layout for the Flatrock Raw Water Main was complete and meetings with property owners regarding the easements were in the near future.
The board also addressed Joe King’s request from the past few Water Board meetings. Herbert said that he would converse with former city attorney Frank Hamilton to find out any more information. King had previously inquired about the city’s watch on water utilities at his trailer park on Park Road.
