Residents and advisory-board members tell St. Clair County commissioners of breakdown in township and public-health governance; fluoride debate resurfaces

St. Clair County residents and several members of the county Health Advisory Board urged the Board of Commissioners on Oct. 16, 2025, to address what they described as a breakdown in local township governance and an ongoing dispute in the county health advisory structure.

At the meeting, residents from Brockway Township said they face a quorum shortfall after multiple resignations and asked the county to consider referrals or other formal steps. Cindy Potter, who identified herself as a former township clerk and a Brockway resident, said the township has lost “a majority of the township board, planning commission, and office staff” and described the supervisor’s behavior as creating a “toxic work environment.” Potter asked the commissioners to consider referring the situation to outside bodies including the state township association and the attorney general.

The crowd’s remarks shifted to county public-health governance and a dispute involving the Advisory Board of Health (ABOH), the county health officer, and the county medical officer. Multiple speakers raised concerns about an email they said Health Officer Liz King sent to county leadership about ABOH membership and about whether ABOH members should hold other local posts.

Libby Prill said the email—shared publicly via FOIA—appeared to create a “blacklist” and asked the commissioners to make the shared communication public for transparency. Prill said the health director’s comments suggested a desire “to pause the ABOH, maybe even eliminate the board.” Dawn Folk read aloud portions of the ABOH bylaws during public comment and said the bylaws authorize the advisory board to recommend ordinances and priorities to the Board of Commissioners; she asked who decides what counts as a “political board.”

Several speakers also addressed the larger public debate over fluoridation after recent advisory-board activity. Commissioner Dave (surname not specified on the record) summarized the Health Advisory Board meeting and said the board had approved a memorandum related to fluoride by a 5–2 vote but that the county board itself would not take immediate action. Multiple residents urged the commissioners to rely on established public-health science.

Virginia Corey told commissioners she opposed reversing county fluoridation and said the county should “let the EPA look at it. Let the state of Michigan look at it. … Then the county can make a decision.” Other commenters, including Jim Frank, urged caution about reading causation from international studies cited in the national toxicology report and criticized what he said were overstatements in the advisory presentation.

Members and supporters of the ABOH also spoke. Kevin Watkins, who identified himself as a current advisory-board member, defended his comments and said he would reapply to the advisory board. Courtney Potts Sanders, a board member of Michigan Pet Alliance, spoke on a separate animal-shelter topic but framed it as a county responsibility to protect employees from threats.

Commissioners did not take formal action on the ABOH or the Brockway Township referrals during the meeting. Administrator Carrie Hepting later said county staff had consulted corporation counsel about Brockway’s resignations and that the election commission would take steps necessary to restore a quorum for township business.

Why it matters: The comments at the commission meeting signal prolonged local disagreement about how the county’s public-health advisory process should operate and whether the ABOH has authority or perceived bias when members hold multiple local roles. The fluoridation issue remains active at the advisory-board level; speakers urged the Board of Commissioners to weigh scientific findings carefully and to preserve transparency in advisory appointments.

The board did not vote on changes to the advisory board structure or on fluoride policy at the Oct. 16 meeting. Commissioners heard multiple requests for greater transparency, for the county to publish the email at issue, and for outside review in the Brockway Township matter.

Next steps and context: County staff said an RFP and related administrative processes are used for other matters and that corporation counsel had advised on Brockway’s resignations. The Advisory Board of Health’s bylaws and state law were cited repeatedly during public comment; speakers urged the board to clarify application, appointment, and conflict-of-interest processes.

Ending: Speakers urged commissioners to act to restore governance and public confidence. No formal direction to staff was recorded on the ABOH or on fluoridation during this meeting.