- March 6, 2025
A little over a month after the Ormond Beach City Commission directed staff to remove fluoride from the city's water supply, the City Commission voted 4-0 on Tuesday, March 4, to amend its code of ordinances, making the removal official.
The commission issued the policy decision on Jan. 21, based on guidance by State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who in November 2024, recommended against community water fluoridation due to the "neuropsychiatric risk associated with fluoride exposure," a press release by the Florida Department of Health stated.
The city had been fluoridating its water supply since 1957. Removing fluoride is saving the city about $14,800 a year.
City Commissioner Travis Sargent, who advocated for removing fluoride in January, repeated similar sentiments at the March 4 meeting. Times have changed, he said.
"I believe water should be water," Sargent said.
Commissioner Harold Briley was absent from the March 4 meeting.
Since the city removed fluoride, the commissioner said he's received positive feedback from residents, including dentists.
Two residents spoke in favor of continuing community fluoridation at the meeting: Jerry Valcik and his daughter Amy, who have continuously voiced opposition to its removal. Jerry Valcik, a retired engineer who dedicated 40 years of his professional engineering career in providing safe drinking water, said the city should let the voters decide whether or not the water supply should be fluoridated.
That's what residents had the opportunity to do in 1957.
"You need to hold a public workshop for citizen input, especially since this has significant public health impact," he said.
He disputed the studies Ladapo cited in the FDOT press release to support the removal of fluoride, saying they relied on "relied on atypically high fluoride exposure levels, invalid biomarkers and insufficient sample sizes."
"These excessively high levels are the rare exception and not the rule," Jerry Valcik said. "Especially in the vast majority of U.S. communities like ours where water fluoridation is highly regulated at safe, optimal levels."
Ladapo's recommendation against community water fluoridation listed safety concerns for children such as the reduction of IQ, cognitive impairment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and increased neurobehavioral problems in children whose mothers ingested fluoride during pregnancy.
The Health Department also reported sleep cycle disturbance, skeletal fluorosis, puberty impacts for adolescent girls and suppression of the thyroid gland as other safety concerns.
Ladapo's guidance goes against that of health organizations such as the American Dental Association, Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Association all support community water fluoridation.
According to the ADA, fluoridation is the most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay.
Amy Valcik argued that the taxpayer savings of continuing to fluoridate the city's water supply exceed the city's annual cost. The CDC states water fluoridation results in 25% fewer cavities, she cited.
The city removing fluoride also took away citizen's freedom of choice, she said, adding that its the community's underserved, particularly children, who will suffer the most.
"Extras like fluoride toothpaste and oral hygiene products are not as effective, and regular dental care not as universally affordable or accessible," she said. "Fluoridation of our public water reaches everyone, and is the most consistently regulated, dependable way to protect dental health. When the health suffers of the kids who now have no access to fluoride, will you pay their dental and medical bills?"
Commissioner Lori Tolland said she felt "fairly neutral" about what has become a controversial subject. Her research of the issue, she said, showed "flawed data, studies and results on both sides."
Additionally, she mentioned that Florida will be considering anti-fluoride bills soon. So is the federal government.
"If this occurs, then there's absolutely no need for discussion or putting it on a referendum where you will have to pay for that extra voting privilege," Tolland said.
Commission Kristin Deaton said she spoke with staff about their opinion of removing it, and experienced no objection.
"So I went and had a conversation with my dentist, and he thanked me for getting him more clients," Deaton said.
Mayor Jason Leslie said he believes government shouldn't be "medicating" its residents.
"I have two dentists in the family who I called and contacted and asked them their input about it, and they said, 'Honestly, a lot of the cavities come from kids drinking vitamin waters and all those other sugary drinks,'" Leslie said.
Holding up a tube of toothpaste, Sargent read the warning printed on the back to call poison control if more toothpaste than is used for brushing is accidentally swallowed.
"I'm a 100% for removing fluoride from our water," he said. "... I mean it's very concerning. Call Poison Control, and once again, freedom of choice goes both ways."
