Pubdate: Thu, 18 Apr 2002
Source: Clarksdale Press Register (MS)
Copyright: 2002, Clarksdale Press Register
Contact:  http://www.pressregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1656
Author: David Mann

COUNTY LOOKS AT CHANGES TO DRUG POLICY

A proposed amendment that would make the drug-testing policy for Coahoma 
County workers less penalizing was carried over to the next Board of 
Supervisors meeting. "We need to look at making some adjustments to our 
program," said County Administrator Hugh Jack Stubbs. "Right now . . . if 
you test positive, you're gone." Stubbs said the present policy states that 
if an employee tests positive for use of an illegal substance, immediate 
termination follows.

Only one person, a Road Department worker, has been fired for failing a 
random drug screening, Stubbs said. Only county workers in areas of public 
safety and those who have commercial driver's licenses are subject to 
random screenings, Stubbs said. He said that routine county employees do 
not face drug tests after hired, unless they are involved in an accident or 
under suspicion. The proposed amendment states, "Employees having a 
confirmed positive test result will be subject to disciplinary action, up 
to and including termination." Board Attorney Tom Ross Jr. said this 
amendment, if passed, would "allow this board to refer the person to an 
employee assistance program and determine disciplinary action." Ross also 
added that this is "the trend" in most other counties. Deciding that the 
penalties need more clarity, as in, who should pay for the employee 
assistance program (the employee or the county?), the board carried the 
issue forward to its next meeting, May 1. In other board business: * The 
board received six bids on a new trash truck.

Prices ranged from Watson Quality Ford's $67,272 to MidAmerican 
International's $92,544.44. * Emergystat reported its response times 
summary for the past quarter, January to March. They had 838 emergency 
calls, 724 emergency transports and averaged 3.4 minutes per hospital 
transport within the city of Clarksdale, according to Mark Niday, 
Emergystat communications manager.

They averaged 9.75 minutes for transports from outside a five-mile radius 
of the city, but within a 10 mile radius.
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MAP posted-by: Beth