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Show NewsSeal County Clipper Thursday, August 28, 2003 Conflict over fluoridation far from over Continued from p. A1 equipment be removed, just that the fluonde pumps be turned That requires a off, he said flick of the switch, not thousands of dollars Hansen believes switching off the pumps will save money in the long run because fluoride's acidity won't be eating away at the pipes at the insertion points. And in the future, cities won't have to replace the pumping equipment as it reaches the end of its life that the petition conforms to HB 64, passed in this year's legislative session, which allows a revote on the fluoride issue in 21X14 Hansen has also asked the group s attorney, George Diumenti, to look at possible litigation related to inappropriate spending of money by the county to influence a ballot proposition He said he will also be working on getting a bill passed in the legislature that will make it illegal for boards of health to spend public money on ballot issues "It's disturbing that a vote can occur when the gov emment, w ith its unlimited supply of taxpayer dollars, can spend those dollars to sway an election that harms the rights of so many citizens. Hansen said While it cost the cities and Weber Basin thousands of dollars to put in fluoridation equipment, it will cost nothing to shut it off. if that is the voters desire, according to Hansen "We're not asking that the cycle Further, he said, additional money will be saved because cities won't have to pay for the chemical or monitor the flow of fluonde into the water Hansen said that some cities chose equipment that can also be used to dispense chlonne, a necessary additive to water, so even the equipment may not necessarily be useless Since the fluonde has been Hansen and others flowing. opposed to fluondation have been avoiding dnnking tap water in a variety of ways both Boston and Cincinnati still dental enses." major Hansen contends "Several more European countries hav e banned fluondation recently " fluonde proponents, however, contend that such conclusions are both faulty and misleading Among those issues is the level of lead in the chemicals used to fluondate water Hansen said that a studv conducted at Dartmouth University shows very high blood levels of lead in communities using either acid or the powdered adv (Kates counter that lead levels introduced bv fluondation tend to be lower than what's alreadv in the water Due to such worries, however. Hansen save many in Davis County will conclude that the risks simple aren't worth a small l eduction in cavities With respect to the public retaining fluoridation it it came to a vote in 2004 Hansen said "we have a hunch that voters will Hansen travels to North Ogden every few weeks with a utility trailer and several five gallon bottles to fill at an artesian well there Others have purchased reverse osmosis filters or buy bottled water One family. Hansen claims, moved to North Ogden to avoid dnnking fluon-date- d water "One of the biggest difficulties is providing unfluondated water for our children while they are at school. he said With all that kids must carry in then backpacks. packing an additional water bottle is a temble burden " The impetus for all the trouble fluoride foes are going through to avoid dnnking tap water remains the issue of the safety ot fluonde and the question of its etfectiveness "Swallowing fluonde to prevent cavities is like swallowing a condom to prevent pregnancy," Hansen said He believes that it the chemical works at all, it works topically "Despite years of fluondation. have fluo-rosilic- overwhelminulv sav no"' School board hikes recreation levy Continued from p. A1 board had meeting, the Davis Chamber of Commerce previously voiced opposition to the hike But there were those who supported the hike, too Reed Hawkes, representing the Woods Cross High School community council said, I support you . I'm thankful that you're looking out for our children's best interests As a member of the school's community council, Hawkes has participated m the athletic programs and stood behind snack bar counters to raise money to support the school's athletic endeavors And former school board member Cheryl Phipps. Clearfield, said she knows the decision, but WTien it comes to education, I don't feel you can skimp She spoke of her own daughter, now in college, who excelled at academics and participated in sports, as well The sports program in the district, helped make her the person she is District business administrator Bruce Williams explained that the district identified $750,(KX) of funding currently going to support athletic programs, which should be used m the core curriculum Those funds, he said, should be replaced by other monies to free that $75(,(HX) for support for academics Williams said the levy has not been increased in 20 years and that the $6 99 hike set on an aver- a difficult Davis home was a 1 percent increase in the total school district taxes age $163.1 Board President Barbara Smith said the board had considered myriad options to fund the $75(),(XX) and decided the levy increase was the only feasible one One option, raising fees charged to student athletes, would hurt middle income kids Williams said low income kids are entitled to fee waivers, enabling them to participate, and Mayor, friends dig in Continued from p. A1 are complete by the end of the year, Johnson said "Does that seem fair9" Richardson agreed, as did the city attorney and city manager Agitating from the audience was one neighbor who interpreted the hearing to be a public hearing, rather than a one 1 le asked loudly to be heard bv the council and quasi-judi-cia- upper income kids would be able to pay. but those in the middle with too much to qualify range for fee waivers, but not enough to easily pav additional tees, would likelv have to diop out ol sports 1 he $750 (XX) going toward the coie program will be used for teacher planning media center, custodial staff, secietanal and administrative training Monies raised through the levy will be used for coaches salaries, custodial and maintenance costs and utilities XX) Paramedic battle looms over fire consolidation Continued from p. A1 Bountiful currently is involved an automatic aid agi cement with South Davis Fire District, in rewhich either department sponds to a fire in the south portion of the county, if the need is there, without a specific request from the other department The sheriff s department meanwhile, operates the paramedic service, with deputies who serve on patrol as wi.ll as in is pleased to medics I he mavois also want to form a special suvice Jistnet which has the power to apart fiom the eitics But the t s still a long lot of woik wav to eo and i paia-medi- Mayors in the southern portion of the district though want the paramedics to operate out ot the fire department Those involved with the south aiea consolidation will studv budgetary issues surrounding paramedic service, including wheie the money to pav tor the serv ice will come from Under I acton's current agreement with the sheriff s department both lav ton City residents and county residents pay tor the service "That amounts to double taxation That's not a nuxlel we're hxikme at We're not financially able-saiTom Haidv, Bountiful citv It dex-not make-sensmanager d s e " Deamer vnd if the two South Davis fire departments can't work out a deal with Cox over paramedics, they may have to ahead bctoie that e m happen Ihcie aic problems with forming a special seivice district Centerville Mavoi Mike Deamer said the impediment to starting a special service chstiict is who initiates it who maintains it and who is ultimatelv ic sponsible tor it Special service chstiicts are loimed thiounh eovcinmental entities such as a countv so that entitv is responsible should the distnct go bankrupt t picsuit no South Davis city willing to sponsoi such a district and neither is the countv But Countv Dannie (ommissiouci Me( onkie said he believes the cities can loim an auicement and the v he joinllv iesponsible it the file district cues bankrupt Deuinci said it s almost tix late to get a special seiv ice district on Novcmbci s ballot and that mav push the distiiet back unoth-e- i two veais is 11 Catch the Clipper online: www. clippertoday. com r I Johnson, in a similar tone, said no However, council member John Pitt, acting as a member of y the bodycouncil asked to let the neighbor be heard No one else supported the request Pitt was philosophical about it after the meeting, however He said, Someone had to make the request I really didn't think it would go very far make application thiough the Utah Department ol Health But that is fraught with its own problems because the state wants a department in place bctoie a license is issued But in south Davis Countv the department mav not happen without para- mavor said r announce 2003 - 2004 (Season yiefiels quasi-judiciar- aro now on solo Got something on your mindP All you need to do is a letter to the editor at: 1 eztalkclippertoday.com A u " 7 ,1 f m SQ3JEEB Signature WB if WnWBHmMWHMMMMMMBMMai 5UI? 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