Public speakers urge St. Clair County board to reject medical director memo that would close clinics and seek end to water fluoridation

St. Clair County Health Advisory Board members heard more than two hours of public comment at an August advisory meeting on proposals from Medical Director Dr. Remington Nevin to consolidate community clinical services, curtail outreach clinics and advocate removing fluoride from municipal drinking water.

The public outcry included health-care workers, retired clinicians, local pastors and community advocates who said the changes would reduce access to vaccines, school-based care and other preventive services in Yale, Algonac, Port Huron and other parts of the county. Several speakers also warned the changes risked loss of grant funding that pays for some outreach services.

"Public health is not free community health care," said Angie Dufresne, a Fort Gratiot resident. "I fullheartedly support Doctor Nevin in all of his directives ... but we need to get control of it before we lose funding." Dufresne said she supported the board's work while also asking for professional conduct in meetings.

Several health-care professionals questioned the memorandum's rationale and the safety claims behind proposals to end off-site clinics. Steven Gura, a professor of nursing at SC4 and former advisory board member, told the board that Dr. Nevin is well qualified but that his memorandum does not solve primary-care access. "Logically, we should have a second part-time primary care physician who has credentials for nurse oversight to meet the needs of the community," Gura said, while recommending an addendum that closures be temporary until alternate physician…