Artesia Stays Neutral On Water Fluoridation Plan

The Artesia City Council opted 3-1 in its May meeting not to take a position on the Golden State Water Company’s plan to fluoridate water in the City and neighboring cities.

Mayor Victor Manalo casted the lone dissenting vote, only saying that he is in favor of fluoridation, a process in which fluoride is added to the water system to reduce tooth decay.

The Golden State Water Company, which operates the City’s water services, asked for city approval to fluoridate the City’s water thanks to a community development grant from First 5 of Los Angeles, a child-advocacy organization created by California voters to invest tobacco tax profits into programs that help improve the lives of children in Los Angeles County, starting from prenatal care to the age of 5. 

The water company said that whether the City signs off on the plan or not, residents and businesses in Artesia would pay an additional 60 cents a month in water rates or $7.20 a year because the company wants to spread the operating costs between the cities in its region, which also includes Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens and Lakewood.

Councilmember Tony Lima questioned Golden State representative Paul Rowley on the plan, asking how fluoridation would affect the water system and when the additional charges will kick in.

“There’s an optimum dosage level that First 5 Los Angeles [said that is] known to benefit dental health and we’re shooting for the optimal dosage 0.7 to 1.1 [mg per liter],” Rowley said.

He didn’t specify when the company will add the charges, but said that they will implement them once the construction of new fluoridation facilities in neighboring cities like Hawaiian Gardens is completed and after calculating the operating expenses.

After reminding Rowley of the City’s past stance toward fluoridation, councilmember Sally Flowers said the City did not participate in the program the last time it was proposed because of the high costs in maintaining it.

This time, she wasn’t buying into Golden State’s latest fluoridation efforts and argued that the City not take a position on the fluoridation issue.

 “The issue that we have tonight is if we support or don’t support it, are people going to pay?” she asked Rowley.

Rowley said that residents will pay more in water rates once they implement the fluoridation plan and the law stipulates that if funding is available from the State, then the companies must build these facilities.

Councilmember Michele Diaz asked City Attorney Kevin Ennis if Golden State has the right to implement the additional $7.20 a year on water rates. He said that the City has no control on water rates.

“The City can write a letter to the [California] Public Utilities Commission (PUC), but it’s the PUC that will decide the rate issue,” he said.

Artesia Garbage Rates Hiked By Six Percent Starting in July

Artesia residents and businesses will have their garbage rates increased by six percent July 1, the City Council agreed.

The charges, which are included in the property tax bill, are part of the City’s agreement with Consolidated Disposal Service, the company contracted by the City to collect its garbage. The agreement allows the company to raise its rates every two years and will remain in effect until 2013.

Richard Fierro, a spokesperson for Consolidated Disposal, told the Council that the increase was necessary because the company is preparing to close its Puente Hills plant in 2013 and will move its operations to the company-owned Sunshine Canyon Landfill in the San Fernando Valley.

Since the company owns its landfills, Fierro said that the increase won’t be as steep as other companies that don’t own their landfills. He said many of them will opt to send its trash in boxcars and dumped in the desert, which would mean that rates would go as high as $50 a ton.

Sewage Improvements Mean Road Delays

A 14-month sewage improvement project in Artesia beginning in June will result in possible traffic delays in the downtown area, according to a spokesman from the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County during the presentation period.

Stan Pagadiotis of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County said that construction on Pioneer Boulevard, 183rd Street, Gridley Road and Artesia Boulevard was necessary in order to replace a pump station on the intersection of Gridley Road and 183rd Street. This will require new sewer lines that run down the middle of the street.

He said that construction will be ongoing until next summer and that Pioneer Boulevard between 183rd Street and 187th Street will be the first phase of the project, which will last until at least September. The district has informed residents and businesses in the downtown area about the sewage improvement and they will place signs informing drivers throughout the affected area about the operation a couple of weeks before construction begins.

Pagadiotis said that during the construction period, there will be no parking on the street that is under construction.

The next City Council meeting is set for 7 p.m. on June 13. For more information, please visit www.cityofartesia.us or call  at (562) 865-6262.