South Charleston city employees who are fired due to failing an illicit drug test would have to wait a year before they could be eligible to be rehired.

City Council members debated the new policy Thursday before approving the measure.

"I think this is something we've needed for a long time," Councilman Sonny Holstine said. "I think the person that's employed by the city that does drugs, they don't care about their family.

"They may go six months and then be tested. They may have been using all year. If they care about their job, they won't do drugs."

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