St. Clair County meeting sees weeks-long health department dispute move to commissioners amid school-clinic, fluoridation fight

The St. Clair County Board of Commissioners heard more than two hours of public comment on Aug. 21 about the county health department’s clinical outreach and school-based clinics, and a parallel, heated debate over community water fluoridation that drew dentists, public-health advocates and dozens of residents.

The discussion was prompted by a memo from the county’s medical director proposing changes to clinical operations, including limits on school-based primary-care services, and by a larger dispute between the county health department staff and the medical director. The board agreed to hold a special discussion on Sept. 4 about health-department public policy for outreach clinics and school-based offerings, after members and the public urged a timely review. Several speakers warned that some services would be terminated Sept. 1 and that grant funding could be at risk Oct. 1.

The debate included technical and policy arguments about community water fluoridation and its role in preventive oral health. Dr. Eric Steyer, who identified himself as Delta Dental of Michigan’s population health management director, told…