Source: Melissa Kaye
Feb 19, 2025, 4:48 PM CST
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (WFHR, WIRI) – Water fluoridation continues in Wisconsin Rapids. The Wisconsin Rapids Common Council met for their regular meeting on February 18, 2025. While several other agenda items were discussed, the addition of fluoride being added to the city water supply brought many citizens to the meeting. Alderperson Jake Cattanach brought the ordinance to ban adding fluoride to the Legislative Committee on February 4, 2025. It passed with 2 ayes and 1 nay. Now, before the full Council, a motion was passed to draft a new ordinance to replace the resolution that has been on the books since the 1950s. The new ordinance will detail continued water fluoridation at recommended state and federal levels.
Alderpersons Veneman, Pluess, and Palmquist said they all heard from their constituents on this issue. The overwhelming majority want the city to continue adding fluoride to the water supply. There was also discussion on the validity of the studies brought forward by Alderperson Cattanach.
Alderperson Veneman said he’s against the government adding chemicals to anything he consumes without his consent. But he also said people in his district feel differently. Veneman stated, “I am a true believer in representative democracy. And I represent a constituency that does not share my views on fluoride by an enormous margin.”
Alderperson Justin Pluess told the Council they should be focusing their efforts on more important issues for their constituents. They should be working to bring more jobs to the community and make Wisconsin Rapids a welcoming place for businesses and entrepreneurs. He stated, “Instead, we are debating whether or not to remove a long-standing scientifically supported public health measure because of a handful of debunked studies and internet conspiracy theories.”
Alderperson Jake Cattanach pushed back against the comments stating a federal study and a California court case. “This is not out of left field or some type of crazy thing. This trial in the northern district of California went through 7 years of litigation and had a two week trial. So this is not just coming from some internet theory.”
Only one citizen spoke in favor of removing fluoride. At least seven citizens spoke to continue community water fluoridation. Many of those who spoke are also professionals in health care fields within the community. Several commenters pointed out instances in the study cited that would not apply to Wisconsin Rapids. It states, “…the inverse association between fluoride exposure and children’s IQ is based primarily on studies with estimated fluoride exposures higher than what is generally associated with consumption of optimally fluoridated water in the United States.” (pg.102) Many of these studies took place with children in other parts of the world such as China and India.
Alderperson Madalyn Palmquist made a motion to create a new ordinance to replace the current resolution from the 1950s. The new ordinance would direct that fluoride be added to the city’s water supply at recommended state and federal levels. Water fluoridation continues in Wisconsin Rapids after the council voted 6 ayes against 2 nays.
The ATV/UTV ordinance was brought up again for discussion by Alderperson Dean Veneman. He proposed creating an ordinance to allow ATV/UTV traffic only on Highway Z. Alderperson Madalyn Palmquist gave the opinion that this ordinance is unnecessary. She held that ATV/UTV traffic is already allowed there by other ordinances and the city is not required to have an ordinance. The proposed ordinance passed 5 ayes to 3 nays.
Alderperson Jeff Penzkover brought a referral to increase the terms of Alderpersons and Mayor from two years to four years. It was agreed the term for Alderpersons should stay at two years. Austin made a motion to increase the term from two to three years for the term of Mayor. Penzkover seconded the motion. Austin amended his motion to draft a motion to bring back to council. Motion passes 8 to 0. It was discussed that this would not take effect until after the next election cycle.
The Council voted to create an ordinance allowing block party permits in the city. Alderperson Cattanach read from the Legislative Committee minutes from February 4, 2025, “Motion by Cattanach, second by Delaney to direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance creating a residential block party permit using ordinances from Onalaska, LaCrosse, Sheboygan, and Wakausha as a guide and to bring the draft ordinance back to the Legislative Committee. Motion carried 3-0.”
The Council voted 8 to 0 to create this ordinance. The Legislative Committee will review the draft when completed as well as the changes to the city’s municipal code regarding animal regulations. Resident Elizabeth Whelen requested the council to consider increasing the allowed number of animals one household can own from 2 to 4. The Legislative Committee will discuss that proposal when reviewing the municipal code.
The full packet provided to the Common Council is available on the City website here. You can watch the meeting from February 18, 2025, here. You can find more information about the proposed ban on water fluoridation in Wisconsin Rapids ordinance at the February 4, 2025 Legislative Committee meeting here.
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