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Residents split over county medical director; commissioners hear requests for transparency and retraction
Summary
Public comment at the May 21 meeting centered on criticism and defense of St. Clair County's medical director, Dr. Remington Nevin, and on allegations that the chair improperly involved himself in a court animal‑control matter. Speakers demanded transparency, FOIA follow‑up and either retraction or accountability; the board recorded the statements and did not take immediate administrative action.
The May 21 St. Clair County Board meeting’s public‑comment period featured extended testimony both critical of and supportive of the county’s medical director, Dr. Remington Nevin, and included a dispute over comments made at the prior meeting that the chair described as defamatory.
Critics accused the current medical director of restricting grant‑supported services and making policy choices that reduced access to teen health clinic services and community vaccination and testing events. Sharon Cortos said that, "By eliminating grant provided services, doctor Nevin has single handedly destroyed the long term communication and trust in public health," and asked commissioners to consider that record when the director’s contract comes up for renewal. Other speakers raised transparency questions about the Community Services Coordinating Body (CSCB) and asked that CSCB meetings be recorded and FOIA requests be answered.
Supporters of the department also spoke. Libby Prill said the advisory board’s recent meeting “dispelled a lot of misinformation” and urged the county to resist what she characterized as malicious attacks that damage trust and livelihoods. Courtney Pratt Sanders of Michigan Pet Alliance urged public review and offered training resources for cross‑agency response.
A separate thread of public comment concerned allegations made at the May 7 meeting about Chairperson Steve Samasco's alleged involvement in a court case. The chair disputed those claims on the record, saying he had obtained the transcript, consulted counsel, and found no reference to his name. Laura Wilhelm Bruzek said she was served with a defamation threat after repeating what she believed she had heard in court and stood by her account while inviting evidence that she was mistaken.
No formal personnel action regarding the medical director or retraction demand was taken at the meeting; the chair said he added a demand/retraction text to the record and provided copies of transcripts on request.
What’s next: Commissioners directed staff to follow up on FOIA and record‑keeping concerns raised during public comment. The payment of CSCB dues ($7,500) was approved on consent, and the board discussed assigning a steering‑committee seat to the administrator to streamline reporting from county directors.
