Fluoride in citizens’ hands; Harding’s allegations denied

After more than an hour and a half of testimony, most of it against fluoridation, the MCSD board voted 4-1 this evening to leave it up to the citizens of McKinleyville to organize and get the matter placed on the ballot for voter approval if they want the substance added to the town’s water supply.

So, if folks want fluoride, they’ll need to work their butts off to get it on the ballot. Then they’ll need to convince voters to approve their measure.

No such citizens group currently exist that I’m aware of.

The lone dissenting vote was Director Jeff Dunk, who was adamant (or maybe he was Adam Ant, based on the audience’s cheers) in his opposition to fluoride. He said he favored a different motion, one that would have simply dropped the matter all together.

As for Marking’s contract, no decision was made.

As for the allegations made by former Business Manager Jim Harding in this week’s paper, Manager Tom Marking said “I’ll tell you that most of what you read in the paper is false.” And sensational.

Everything is groovy at the MCSD and Mr. Harding’s allegations are basically bullshit. (Marking didn’t use those exact words, but that was the basic message.)

Lots of questions at this point. It will take time to sort out this mess.

More on all of this in next week’s paper.

Tonight’s MCSD meeting

Word on the street is that there will be an anti-fluoride protest at tonight’s MCSD meeting. I’m not sure exactly what that means. Are people going to show up and simply express their opposition to fluoride to the board? Or will there be a protest with placards and a little street theater? We’ll find out shortly.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. with a closed session, during which the board will negotiate a contract with Manager Tom Marking. There will be some time before the board goes behind closed doors for the public to comment on the matter. Then at 7 p.m. the board is scheduled to convene in open session. That’s when the real fun begins. I would advise those attending to grab a cookie immediately upon entering the Hewitt Room because they probably won’t last long, at least based on my experience.  There’s nothing more depressing then going to the back of the room during the meeting and discovering an empty paper plate where the cookies once were.

If anything earth shattering happens at the meeting, I’ll try to post something on this blog when I get home. I’ll have to keep it extremely short, being that the meeting will probably drag on late into the night and I need my beauty sleep.

Stay tuned…