Residents and officials dispute closure of Yale teen clinic and Smiles on Wheels; advisory board to refine opt‑in language

Community members and county officials spent much of the Nov. 20 St. Clair County Board of Commissioners meeting debating local access to child and teen health care after the planned Yale teen clinic and the Smiles on Wheels school dental program were delayed.

A public hearing on the county's proposed 2026 general fund budget opened the meeting, and several residents used the public‑comment period to press commissioners on health services. Vicky Blackburn asked officials why the county appeared to be "forfeiting $180,000," and sought clarity on how that amount factored into commissioners' decisions. The board later took Item 12b (the Smiles on Wheels agreement) off the agenda at the request of health advisory staff and after a motion by Commissioner Lisa was approved.

Commissioner David Rushing summarized discussions from the county health advisory board and said the advisory board voted 6‑1 in favor of an opt‑in approach for the Smiles on Wheels program. Rushing told the board that last year 423 kindergarten and first‑grade students were in scope countywide, that 51 percent of those children required follow‑up after the oral exam, and that there were 12 severe cases. He said Port Huron School District opted not to participate and that the advisory board was still awaiting some answers from Smiles on Wheels and state contacts. On the record, Rushing asked for a written letter from health staff to clarify whether the county health department had given the Yale superintendent any formal instruction related to immunization paperwork.

Multiple residents urged continuing teen health services in Yale. Jim Frank described the clinic as an important access point for vulnerable teens; Shelly O'Brien, a Yale resident and city council member, said the health department's role is to facilitate care and warned that clinic closures would worsen access as many residents face insurance losses. Virginia Corey and others criticized Dr. Nevin, the physician referenced in the record, saying he took political stances while serving in a medical role; the transcript records disagreement over that characterization and notes that Dr. Nevin withdrew his name from consideration for a role. Kathleen (recorded as speaker 17) said the county had "let our community lose out on our share of $180,000 in health care services for children due to a completely preventable series of events."

The board did not adopt any new health program policy at the meeting; Item 12b was removed from the agenda and the health advisory board was asked to continue its review and provide written recommendations on opt‑in versus opt‑out language and other outstanding questions. Multiple speakers on both sides urged documentation and clarity; commissioners asked for formal advisories and for follow‑up briefs from staff.

The meeting record shows community concern about access to care, disagreements about administrative process and whether county staff or advisory bodies were adequately included in decisions. The board instructed the advisory board and county staff to continue work and provide written guidance.

What's next: The Smiles on Wheels agreement will not be reconsidered until advisory‑board concerns and outstanding answers from the program provider are addressed and reported back to the commissioners.