Petition is addressed to: Monroe City Council

We created this petition for residents within the City of Monroe, WI water district to show their support for water fluoridation. We want to show the Monroe City Council their constituents support water fluoridation. Click here for a detailed history of how this issue has progressed in Monroe

The next meeting where this will be decided to move forward with a second public hearing will be December 2nd at 6:30 PM. The council would need a 6-vote majority at this meeting to move forward with a public hearing, but if it moves past that vote, only a normal 5-vote majority is necessary to remove the fluoride from the water. The mayor could also veto any council decision, which would require a 6-vote majority to overturn. From the historical council votes and comments on this matter, we expect the 5 alders to continue to vote to remove the fluoride, so if this extends to a second public hearing the fluoride will likely be removed.

What should you do if you care about this issue?

1. Sign this petition - If you are a resident/business owner that uses City of Monroe's water services
2. Plan to attend the December 2nd council meeting at 6:30 to register to speak during Appearances by the Public and have your opinion known. Even if you are not willing to speak, being present at the meeting is very important to show the city council that you care about this topic. 
3. Reach out to your council members and the mayor directly to make sure they are aware of your opinion. Click here to email Monroe City Council or you can find their contact information here: https://www.cityofmonroe.org/staff_directory/index.php 

Email you can use as a template:
Monroe City Council,

I am a resident/business owner within the City of Monroe and utilize the City of Monroe water supply. I am reaching out to inform you that I support having fluoride in the City of Monroe’s water. 

Name: 
Address:

Thank you,

Community members living in the Monroe water district feel that the mineral fluoride should remain in the water because of the following statements:

• It has been proven to be a safe and cost-effective tool to help reduce tooth decay in a community by an estimated 25%. 
• We recognize there is a reason the CDC has named it one of the 10 greatest public health interventions of the 20th century and it has been used in the water since 1945. Evidence questioning its safety is often from studies that have fluoride concentrations more than double levels in Monroe’s water supply. 
• According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, water fluoridation and fluoride toothpaste work together to help prevent tooth decay and offer more protection against decay than using either one alone. Fluoridated water keeps a low level of fluoride in the mouth throughout the day, while fluoride toothpaste delivers higher concentrations at important times of the day, such as bedtime.
• We trust our public health officials and experts in this field to be constantly evaluating the evidence and weighing the safety of water fluoridation. They stand by the current evidence reporting its safety. The list of agencies that continue to support fluoridation include: the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dental Association, American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Water Works Association, Department of Defense, and the World Health Organization.
• The United States uses supplementation in many foods and beverages, like Vitamin D in milk or Iodine in salt to keep its residents healthy, and we view fluoride in the water supply as that same type of measure. Areas that do not fluoridate their water often have other measures in place to reduce tooth decay including supplementation of other foods like salt, fluoride treatments in the schools, or free dental care for kids. 
• It is much more cost-effective to fluoridate the water than to have every person interested in fluoride supplements pay for a dental or doctor's exam (~$300) to prescribe the supplement and pay for the supplements. The average cost with insurance for fluoride supplements for kids is $45 per year and adult prescription fluoride toothpaste with insurance is about $80 per year, compared to the $1.10 per person per year to add to the water.
• We do not wish to be added to the list of communities like Calgary which saw a 2x increase in cavities among elementary students or Juneau which saw almost one more cavity per child per year among children under 6 within 5 years of ceasing water fluoridation.