Board Chairman Dan Dean (left) and Vice-Chairman Gary Heberling are shown with Drain Commissioner Greg Alexander with two awards presented to the county as part of the Karegnondi Water Authority initiative.
(Sandusky) – A Sanilac County dentist expressed his unhappiness to the Sanilac County Board of Commissioners Tuesday afternoon, voicing concern over the new dental clinic in Sandusky. Dr. Dennis Spolane, who works and lives in Sanilac County, said it is a slap in the face to area dentists that the new clinic was allowed to locate in the county.
Additionally, Spolane said although the new clinic was supposed to be geared toward medicaid patients, they are now competing with local dentists for private pay and insurance patients. He claimed the Sanilac County Health Department receives what he called kickbacks, for referrals to the new clinic.
The local businessman asked why no bids were taken on the construction project and pointed out five Sandusky dentists and 12 throughout the county take medicaid patients – calling the new clinic’s services as a “slap in the face to all of us.”
Commissioners said the questions about the program and the concerns about the Healthy Department seemed legitimate and they will look in to the matter to get answers to the concerns.
Board Chairman Dan Dean advised Administrator Tara Griffith to have Health Department representatives, and possibly some area dentists, at a future meeting for further discussion.
In other commissioner news:
- The board heard a report on the Karegnondi Water Authority system that runs through southern Sanilac County. KWA officials said the projected $300 million dollar project has been completed and came in at $8 million dollars under budget.
Construction on the project, that pipes water from Lake Huron to Genesee County, was started in 2013 and began treating their own water last fall. Permits were pulled in 2009 and the project was finished last year. During construction, 1,400 people were employed for the project.
The KWA, who draws 85 million gallons a day from Lake Huron for it’s customers, also serves as an emergency backup source for water for several communities including Imlay City, Mayville and the City of Lapeer.
County officials were presented two awards from Sanilac County Drain Commissioner Greg Alexander, who is also the KWA Chairman, for Engineering Merit and Innovation of Excellence
- Administrator Griffith reported to commissioners that 25 people had applied for the County’s Animal Control position that is opening up as a result of longtime employee Jim Mattson’s retirement at the end of June. As a result of the retirement, Griffith said Sanilac County will let their contract with Tuscola County, for shared duties, expire next month. Griffith said her office has narrowed the list to seven applicants who have some degree of experience with the position. The Personnel Committee will discuss the hiring process and bring a hiring recommendation back to Commissioners at a future meeting.
