Board Meeting: Ex-Trustee Advocates Fluoridation, New Invisible-Fence Law Prepared

Former Western Springs trustee James Maragos appeared before the Board of Trustees at Monday’s regular meeting to speak in favor of fluoridating drinking water, the first citizen to do so since a number of residents .

Maragos, who chaired the Public Works and Water Committee during his tenure on the Board, presented the trustees with a packet of information from the American Dental Association, which claims that “the overwhelming weight of credible scientific evidence has consistently indicated that fluoridation of community water supplies is safe.”

The packet cites the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in championing fluoridation as “one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20^th century,” states that even with fluoride toothpaste widely available areas without fluoridated water show 20-40 percent more tooth decay, and says that every dollar spent on fluoridation saves $38 in dental costs.

“It’s a very safe additive to the water supply,” Maragos said. “There [are] very good reasons for why we should fluoridate. It’s probably one of the best things we can do as a village to help safeguard our public.”

Critics of fluoridation, like the newly-founded Western Springs Residents Concerned About Fluoride, claim that ingesting fluoride causes a number of negative health effects ranging from thyroid and endocrine issues to damaging brain function.

But Village President Bill Rodeghier appeared to be squarely in Maragos’ camp. “I’d like to think that our decision would be guided by science, and what you’ve given us here seems to indicate that not to fluoridate water would be a denigration of our duties to look after public health and welfare,” Rodeghier said.

The Board indicated that much of the discussion regarding fluoridation would take place at Public Works and Water Committee meetings, which are open to the public.

New invisible fence ordinance

In response to the at January’s voting meeting, as well as other incidents involving pedestrians feeling threatened by untethered dogs, the General Government Committee has proposed a new ordinance that would specify restrictions for Western Springs residents who keep pets penned with invisible electric fences.

The new law, based on ordinances on the books in other similar towns, would mandate that invisible fences be laid no closer than six feet to a public sidewalk, as well as require a $25 invisible-fence permit and standard signage to be visible on the property.

“This was a response to what I thought were pretty legitimate concerns by more than one resident about being threatened, to use the word mildly, by dogs racing towards them,” President Rodeghier said.

Existing invisible fences would be grandfathered in and not asked to be changed, except for the addition of signage. It was unclear if the signage on grandfathered fences would be a request or a mandate.

The ordinance is scheduled to be on the omnibus vote for the March voting meeting.

Code of conduct, Tischler’s parking

Also likely to appear on the omnibus vote in two weeks’ time is a new set of 26 rules governing conduct in or outside Village-owned buildings like , the and the .

Activities banned in the code of conduct include defacement or theft of property, public intoxication, moving furniture without permission, being without a shirt and/or shoes, carrying more than two bags of personal property, listening to an electronic device audible at a distance of five feet, hindering anyone’s free movement, begging, fighting and swearing at others.

“The police department has received complaints over the years about people acting in an offensive manner, but the police department has not had specific rules that they have applied uniformly,” said Trustee Deborah Lyons.

“I guess it’s a comment on our society that we need something like this,” Rodeghier remarked. “You’d think that common sense would prevail, but some people don’t seem to use that.”

Another ordinance in the works would permit citizens to use the parking lot behind the former Tischler’s grocery for downtown parking during the weeks when a major portion of Hillgrove Avenue will be under construction.

The construction was scheduled for last fall (irking some business owners with the to in front of their storefronts,) but had to be postponed due to state funding not being available in time to complete the project before the winter.

Miscellaneous items of note

Two residents, Maureen Coakley and Sharon Cloghessy, made inquiries about Timber Trails during the Citizen Comments section of the Board meeting. Coakley (a Timber Trails resident) asked about any developments in either unit, while Cloghessy was concerned with the for Unit II. Village staff said there have been no new developments and that public hearings on any proposals are still far off.

The Board discussed and voted to finally approve the purchase of a ground-mounted 1000 kVA transformer for the new reverse-osmosis water plant at a cost of no more than $50,000 for the purchase and $42,000 for the installation. The transformer has been an item of discussion for two months now as trustees sought to avoid strung up high on a pole.

Two liquor license requests by the are scheduled to be approved on the omnibus: the first for the American Diabetes Association Fundraiser on April 27, and the second for the Laugh for Literacy Fundraiser on June 6.

A brief omnibus vote approved proclamations recognizing Monday as the 100^th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the USA and declaring April 27 as Arbor Day in Western Springs.

President Rodeghier also announced that he will be attending a conference of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus about emerald-ash borer, which is of Village parkway trees.