Pubdate: Fri, 27 Oct 2006
Source: Times Democrat (OH)
Copyright: 2006, Brown Publishing Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2886
Author: Wade Linville, Associate Editor

GEORGETOWN COUNCIL DISCUSSES DRUG POLICY

Search For Low-Cost Provider Underway

GEORGETOWN - The adoption of an ordinance that would  allow the
Village of Georgetown to conduct random drug  tests of village
employees was put on hold during the  Oct. 19 council meeting.

Drug testing in the workplace has become common  practice for
businesses over the past 25 years.

Since introduced, drug testing in the work place has  become a
feasible way to help safeguard the health of  employees and reduce
liability risks to business  owners.

Drug testing is now being conducted in thousands of  work places all
over Ohio and, if the cost is found to  be feasible, the Village of
Georgetown may soon be  among the many employers who use random
drug-screening  in order to develop safer work environments for
village  employees.

During a meeting in April, Georgetown Village Council  member Gloria
Parker suggested to other members of  council that the Village of
Georgetown look into an  ordinance that would require all village
employees to  undergo drug screening.

Georgetown Solicitor Jay Cutrell later drafted an  ordinance that, if
passed by council, would subject all  village employees to undergo
random drug-screening. But  council held off on adopting the ordinance
until  Georgetown Administrator Kelly Jones was able to gather
information from medical service providers regarding  the cost to
conduct drug testing.

With more than 50 village employees on the books,  village officials
felt the cost to conduct drug testing  should be closely examined
before moving to adopt the  ordinance.

During Georgetown's Oct. 19 village council meeting,  Jones presented
council with bids from medical service  providers who could conduct
drug testing.

The first cost Jones was able to obtain was from APPS,  of Cincinnati,
who would conduct drug-screening at a  cost of $37.50 to $45 per
person, depending on how many  the Village of Georgetown wished to
test at one time.

Councilman Dale Cahall, who suggested Jones check with  APPS for drug
screening, said the company will come  on-site to conduct five or more
drug tests at a time.

Jones was also able to obtain a cost from Meadowview  Regional Medical
Center in Maysville, Ky., who gave a  cost of $60 per person for drug
screening.

Jones said he had left messages at Brown County General  Hospital to
gather a cost for providing the  drug-screening service but his calls
were not returned.

"I contacted Brown County General Hospital and they  were supposed to
get back with me," Jones said to  council while explaining the
difficult time he has had  getting answers.

Parker said she heard that the Bureau of Worker's  Compensation may
have the ability to conduct drug  testing.

Cutrell suggested to council that other routes for  drug-testing be
researched before proceeding with the  adoption of the ordinance.

Council agreed and took no action on the ordinance.

In other business:

Georgetown property owner Charlie Bradley appeared  before council to
express concerns of water drainage  problems on village streets and
sidewalks. Jones said  he was currently awaiting cost from contractors
to fix  the problem.

Jones alerted council that he has posted a job in the  Cincinnati
Enquirer for a level one, two or three Waste  Water Plant Supervisor
but the only response he's  received is from people without a waste
water  operator's license. According to Jones, the Village of
Georgetown is looking at $400,000 to $1 million in  necessary waste
water plant improvements to take place  in the future.

At 10 a.m. on Nov. 11, the Village of Georgetown will  hold an auction
of village equipment, which will also  include items supplied by the
Village of Ripley.  Auctioneer Services will be provided by Campbell's
  Auctioneers of Ripley.

Georgetown Police Chief Buddy Coburn announced that the  Georgetown
Police Department web site, www.geopd.com,  has been improved.

"We're getting a lot of response from it," Coburn said  of the web
site.

Council members, at the request of Dale Cahall, agreed  to make a
donation to United Way. After village  officials dug into their
wallets and came up with $211  to donate to United Way, council voted
to allow the  Village of Georgetown to match their contribution. The
donation to United Way, including the personal donation  from village
officials and the match by the Village of  Georgetown, totaled $422.

"We issue a challenge to all other councils," said  Georgetown Mayor
John Jandes after making the donation  to the United Way.

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MAP posted-by: Derek