St. Clair Co. RNs to rally to protect public health, call for investigation of medical director

Public health nurses to rally at Kiefer Park on 9/3 before marching to commissioners’ meeting

PORT HURON, MI – St. Clair County Health Department nurses are continuing to speak out about cuts to public health and concerns involving Medical Director Dr. Remington Nevin, including allegations of harassment and violations of nurses’ rights.

Following previous calls for the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners to arrange for an independent, neutral investigation of these concerns, nurses and community supporters will rally on Thursday 9/3 to demand accountability and action.

“We are standing together to protect our rights, our coworkers and the public health services our community depends on,” said Jessica Baker, RN, a public health nurse at St. Clair County and president of the local MNA (Michigan Nurses Association) union. “There must be accountability and a workplace where public health employees can do their jobs without harassment or fear of retaliation."

Nurses and community supporters will rally at Kiefer Park before marching to the Board of Commissioners meeting where MNA nurses will address commissioners during public comment.

WHO: St. Clair County Health Department nurses (members of the Michigan Nurses Association); supportive community members
WHAT: Rally and march with signs and chanting; Nurses participating in public comment at the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners’ meeting
WHEN: Rally starts at 5pm with speakers at 5:15; Meeting starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, September 3.
WHERE: Kiefer Park, 600 Fort St, Port Huron, MI; Board of Commissioners Room, Administrative Office Building, 2nd Floor, 200 Grand River Ave., Port Huron, 48060
WHY: To call on the Board to take action regarding the Medical Director and pause cuts to Health Department services

BACKGROUND
The nurses, who are members of the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA), previously spoke out during public comment at the commissioners’ meeting on Thursday, July 23 and have continued to raise their concerns at subsequent meetings.

County officials investigated serious complaints about Medical Director Remington Nevin’s conduct, concluding that the work environment is “toxic” because of his insults and threats to employees. Their 2024 report also found that Nevin repeatedly violated well-established safety protocols, “endangering staff, patients and the broader community.” The report concluded that multiple factors make the situation “untenable long term.”

In that report, county officials recommended that the County Commission arrange for an impartial investigation – yet nothing has been done. Separately, the state is investigating a nurse’s charge that the Medical Director retaliated against her. In addition to his unacceptable conduct, the Medical Director’s policies are out of line with public health, including proposing to cut the health department’s Title X program, a federally funded resource for family planning and reproductive health care.

Nurses shared their concerns during the public comment period at the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday, July 23, urging the board to:  

• Commission an independent, neutral investigation conducted by an outside party through a secure process that protects employees from retaliation
• Pause any reductions to Health Department programs, including Title X services, until those decisions can be evaluated through a transparent process informed by evidence and community need

The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) is the largest union and professional association for registered nurses and healthcare professionals in the state. MNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United and AFL-CIO.