Harlan Municipal Utilities Board votes to retain fluoride in water supply

HARLAN — In a meeting held Thursday, March 26, the Harlan Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees voted to continue adding fluoride to the city’s water supply. The decision followed a thorough discussion and public input from both residents and health officials.
 In January 2026, the board introduced and approved Resolution 105-2026 to discontinue community water fluoridation. No public vote was planned, but the utility accepted public comments through March 26. Residents were notified through newsletters included with monthly utility bills.
Prior to the meeting, the board had accepted over 50 written comments on the issue, many urging the removal of fluoride, citing concerns about its potential neurological impacts. During the meeting, a 15-minute public comment period allowed local residents and health professionals to voice their opinions.
Among those advocating for the retention of fluoride in the water were local healthcare professionals and organizations. Dr. Mary Hoch and Cornerstone Dental of Harlan, along with the Shelby County Local Board of Health, which includes Harlan dentist Dr. Roy Burkhalter of Markham Family Dental Associates, submitted letters supporting fluoridation. Additional backing came from Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation and the Iowa Dental Foundation.
One local resident spoke out against the continued use of fluoride, arguing that it is a neurotoxin. “If you drink it, if you consume it, cook with it, bathe in it, water vegetables in it, it’s going directly into your system,” she stated. “I do not want to be forced to have fluoride in my water.”
Health experts also weighed in. Mindy Wells, RDH, an Oral Health Consultant with the Iowa Department of Health & Human Services, spoke virtually via Zoom. She emphasized that Harlan’s fluoridation level of 0.7 mg/L is a balanced approach that reduces oral disease risk without adverse effects. “For visual context,” Wells explained, “0.7 mg/L is equivalent to about three drops of fluoride in a 55-gallon barrel.”
Jenny Sharrick, Director of Public Health Services at Firefly (formerly FAMILY, Inc.), shared statistics about the local school district’s tooth decay rates. According to the I-Smile program, which works with children and families in Shelby County, the tooth decay rate in the Harlan Community School District rose from 13% to 16% over the past year. Sharrick stressed the importance of community water fluoridation, calling it a cost-effective measure that ensures access to dental care in a county with limited resources.
“There is one current dental provider in Shelby County that accepts Medicaid, and they are not accepting new Medicaid patients,” Sharrick noted. “Fluoridation in water is a cheap, easy, and readily approved intervention that’s vital in a community with limited dental care access.”
While the board discussed the matter, Trustees were divided. Trustee Kevin Lucke admitted the board may have acted hastily when considering the removal of fluoride at the January meeting. “When I look at the science behind this... I’m an engineer, so I follow the science,” Lucke said. “My view is we are a bit too early in the overall research to determine that fluoride is harmful, yet we have all this research saying it’s preventing cavities.”
Trustee Alan Ickes shared his uncertainty, stating, “I’m torn... and don’t know which way to go.”
Chairperson Michelle Ericksen, who reflected on the broader impact on children and underserved communities, emphasized that the fluoride dosage in the water system is minimal. “Four years ago, we were told it’s such a low dose going into our water system. I am going to vote to keep it in.”
Following further deliberations, Lucke made a motion to rescind the board’s January decision to discontinue fluoridation. Ericksen seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved by the three trustees present.