Orange County NC Website
Due to the difficulty in securing experts to participate in the fluoride review process, the Ad Hoc <br /> Committee presented to the full Board additional options during the February 27, 2019 BOH meeting. <br /> During that meeting, the Board agreed to offer an honorarium of $1,000 per expert for up to three <br /> experts. See Attachment 14. The letter to secure experts was updated to reflect the honorarium and <br /> resent to various local professionals and again to statewide societies. See Attachment 15. <br /> The OWASA Director contacted Health Director Quintana Stewart and expressed their Board of <br /> Director's interest in being involved in the fluoride review and survey development process. The Ad Hoc <br /> Committee addressed this request during the May 22, 2019 BOH meeting. The BOH decided to continue <br /> with the current plan to avoid undue influence. This was supported by OWASA Executive Director, Ed <br /> Kerwin. See Attachment 16. <br /> By July 2019, the Ad Hoc Committee was able to secure three experts and one volunteer expert <br /> to participate in the fluoride review process. The committee, with assistance from Kristin Prelipp, <br /> Communication Manager, finalized the community questionnaire (see Attachment 17) and began <br /> promotion. The questionnaire was opened to the community from July 18 to July 31, 2019. The online <br /> questionnaire was promoted on social media platforms, sent to OWASA customers, and hard copies <br /> were available at the Health Department's medical and dental clinics. See Attachment 18. <br /> An analysis of the survey was conducted by the BOH Strategic Plan Manager. There was a total <br /> of 170 online and hard copy surveys received; 72% responded that they supported OWASA fluoridation <br /> of water and 29% responded they were opposed to OWASA fluoridation of water. Of the respondents, <br /> 79% drink OWASA water regularly (14% did not) and 86% live in Chapel Hill/Carrboro area (7% did not). <br /> Of all survey respondents who showed support, 68% support fluoridation of water because it is <br /> an important public health measure, in the right amounts, it is safe, and in the right amounts, it helps <br /> prevent dental decay. Other reasons respondents support fluoride include fluoridation being a social <br /> 7 <br />