County moves to end Port Huron Area School District teen-clinic contract, seeks transition plan

The St. Clair County Board of Commissioners voted Feb. 19 to direct administration to send notice terminating the county's contract with the Port Huron Area School District that staffs and operates the county-run teen health clinic, while discussing transition options to ensure continued care.

Motion and vote: During new business a motion to direct administration to send notice to terminate the Port Huron Area School District contract was made and seconded. The board conducted a roll-call vote recorded as: Zeller "Yes," Rushing "Yes," VandenBosch "No," Angie "Yes," Beaton "No," Chairperson Samasco "Yes." The motion passed by majority.

What the board said: Administrator Tom (surname not specified in the transcript) and health staff said the county intends the termination to allow Port Huron Area School District or another vendor to pursue available grant funding or to permit a federally qualified health center to assume operations. Officials noted the county's grant period for some clinics runs through Sept. 30, 2026, and that the county's clinical services will operate until a transition is complete or grant funds expire.

Public comments and concerns: Public commenters split between concerns about clinic materials and preserving access to care. Mary Lou Kramer (Blue Water Indivisible) urged procedural rigor and raised ethics concerns about a commissioner's public statements; other residents, including Kathleen Grantham and Eileen Tesch, asked for a clear timeline and contingency plans should the county cease direct operation. "This clinic has been running for 40 years," one resident said, asking what would happen after October if no solution is found.

Implementation and next steps: The board said administration will submit the required 30-day notice per contract terms as needed and that a three-member subcommittee formed by the advisory board of health will meet to seek potential suitors, including federally qualified providers, to maintain services in Port Huron, Yale and other rural areas. The county stressed it would not retain direct operational control if a school district or outside vendor assumes the clinic; revenues derived from Medicaid and grants mean the school district could hire a vendor to continue services.

The meeting record shows the directive to terminate the contract and a commitment to pursue transition options; no definitive replacement vendor was chosen during the meeting.