Fluoride will be discussed at Port Angeles City Council meeting Tuesday

PORT ANGELES CITY Council members will receive an update on the city’s fluoridation program when they meet Tuesday.

The 10-year contract for adding the chemical into the water supply comes up for a renewal next year.

In an interview on KONP radio last week, City Manager Dan McKeen said some City Council members have indicated they want to take a closer look at the issue — and may want to put it on the ballot so residents can weigh in.

The city began adding fluoride into the water system in 2006, paid for by a grant from the Washington Dental Service Foundation. Many dentists and health professionals say fluoride in the water helps fight tooth decay.

The addition of fluoride to Port Angeles’ water has survived several challenges in court.

Forks and Port Angeles are the only two cities on the North Olympic Peninsula that fluoridate their drinking water.

The City Council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.

The regular meeting will be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. executive session to discuss collective bargaining with an employee organization, including contract negotiations. No subsequent action is expected.

Council members also will consider the reallocation of 2010 bond proceeds that were intended for the failed “smart meter,” or Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project, when they meet Tuesday in regular session.

They also will set a public hearing date for surplus equipment and property at the Morse Creek Hydroelectric Project and hear an update from City Manager Dan McKeen on ambulance service.

In other governmental meetings this coming week:

Clallam County commissioners

The three Clallam County commissioners will discuss their next steps after receiving a second Opportunity Fund Board recommendation to award $285,952 grant to the city of Port Angeles when they gather for their weekly work session Monday.

The work session will be at 9 a.m. in the commissioners’ board room (160) at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

Commissioners voided a warrant for the grant in June after County Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis had said she would not issue it.

They will discuss if a public hearing will be held.

On Monday, the board also will discuss an invitation for bids for Elwha Interpretive Center kiosk panels. The center will focus on the history of the Elwha River and its $325 million dam removal and restoration.

On Tuesday, during their regular session in their board room, they will conduct a public hearing for a mid-year budget review on Tuesday.

The hearing will begin at 10:30 a.m. after the meeting begins at 10 a.m. The board will hold an executive session at 9 a.m. to discuss potential litigation.

A second public hearing will be held on a budget emergency transferring $300,000 to shelter providers and programs that help the homeless.

Tuesday action items include:

■   An agreement with the state Department of Commerce’s Office of Crime Victims Advocacy for victim and witness assistance program activities.

■   Agreements with the Department of Social and Health Service’s Juvenile Justice and Rehabilitation Administration for evidence-based expansion and a consolidated contract.

■   An agreement with the state Department of Transportation for improvements to LaPush Road.

■   An agreement with the state Department of Transportation for a funding match for improvements to East Beach Road at Lake Crescent.

■   A resolution appointing members to the Noxious Weed Advisory Board.

■   Notice of an Aug. 4 hearing on proposed amendments to policy on board operating guidelines.

■   Consideration of final plat approval for a subdivision alteration.

Opportunity Fund

Clallam County Opportunity Fund Advisory Board members will consider a Port of Port Angeles application for $1 million when they meet Thursday.

The meeting is at 10:30 a.m. in Room 208 of the North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center, 905 W. Ninth St., Port Angeles.

The funds would be used to complete building improvements to the port’s Composite Recycling Technology Center.

Port Angeles city

Port Angeles City Council members will receive an update on the city’s fluoridation program when they meet Tuesday.

The 10-year contract for adding the chemical into the water supply comes up for a renewal next year.

In an interview on KONP radio last week, City Manager Dan McKeen said some City Council members have indicated they want to take a closer look at the issue and may want to put it on the ballot so residents can weigh in.

The city began adding fluoride into the water system in 2006, paid for by a grant from the Washington Dental Service Foundation. Many dentists and health professionals advocated for fluoride in the water to help with tooth decay.

The addition of fluoride to the city’s water was challenged unsuccessfully in court.

The City Council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.

The regular meeting will be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. executive session to discuss collective bargaining with an employee organization, including contract negotiations. No subsequent action is expected.

Council members also will consider the reallocation of 2010 bond proceeds that were intended for the failed “smart meter,” or Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project, when they meet Tuesday in regular session.

They also will set a public hearing date for surplus equipment and property at the Morse Creek Hydroelectric Project and hear an update from City Manager Dan McKeen on ambulance service.

Sequim schools

The Sequim School Board will consider a third attempt to pass a bond measure when it meets Monday.

The board will meet at 6 p.m. at 503 N. Sequim Ave. It will review a draft bond resolution. The district unsuccessfully tried to pass construction bonds in February and in April 2014.

Clallam Transit

Clallam Transit board members will consider an agreement with the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe for public transit service when they gather in Sequim on Monday.

The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. at the Sequim Transportation Center, 190 W. Cedar St., Sequim.

Parking is available nearby.

Other action items include acceptance of an updated 2015 salary and wage schedule for non-represented personnel and an agreement with Jefferson Transit for connection service in west Jefferson County.

Transit operator Dan Kauffman will be recognized at the meeting for his 20 years of service to the public transportation agency.

Clallam PUD

Clallam County Public Utility District commissioners will consider immediate work to allow water to be pumped to the Upper Fairview water system when they meet Monday.

The meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the boardroom of the Port Angeles main office, 2431 E. U.S. Highway 101.

The commissioners will consider declaring an emergency and authorizing emergency work without a formal bid for furnishing and installing necessary electrical equipment to pump the water.

Staff will provide an update on the water shortage in the Upper Fairview water system later in the meeting.

Other agenda items include:

■ An excellence in performance award to an employee.

■ A resolution establishing the district’s schedule of deposits and charges and electric line extension unit prices.

■ A request for proposal for firms interested in providing a residential mail-by-request service for the district to provide energy-saving advanced power strips for home entertainment systems.

Charter review

The Clallam County Charter Review Commission will discuss potential charter amendments on Monday.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Clallam County Courthouse.

Board of Health

The Clallam County Board of Health will hear a cost analysis of the a winter measles outbreak on Tuesday. The meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Room 160 at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

Health board members also will hear information about the first pertussis, or whooping cough, cases in Clallam County, bat encounters in the area and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

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