Pubdate: Thu, 30 Nov 2006
Source: News Democrat (Georgetown, OH)
Copyright: 2006 Brown Publishing Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2886
Author: Wade Linville, Associate Editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

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.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake