COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TAKE NO ACTION ON DRUG POLICY

The Board of Washington County Commissioners took no action Monday to
adopt a revised drug and alcohol testing policy after discussion by
elected officials and an Association of County Commissioner's of
Oklahoma official.

A proposed new policy based on a standard Association of County
Commissioner's of Oklahoma policy was handed out at last week's meeting.

District 2 Commissioner Linda Herndon said at that time the policy
would likely be a model for the new Washington County policy, but
would be modified.

The proposal came on the heels of three highly publicized arrests
involving a top county official and former county employees.

Washington County Treasurer Stan Stevens, former County
Commissioners' Administrative Assistant Kodi Lee Ferguson and former
Washington County Maintenance Engineer Clyde Allan Walker have all
been charged with drug-related offenses.

Ferguson resigned her post on Jan. 15 while Walker was terminated by
the commissioners on Jan. 22.

According to Dale Frech, safety coordinator for ACCO, the proposed
new county policy would allow for drug and alcohol testing upon
application, upon reasonable suspicion, post-accident testing and
random testing. However, he noted that the provisions mainly focused
on employees who are authorized to carry firearms and employees
engaged in activities which directly affect the safety of others.

When commissioners were asked if the new policy would have allowed
any of the three already facing drug-related charges, there was no
answer. County Clerk Marjorie Parrish, however, suggested, "one could
have been but maybe that's a stretch."

One county official questioned the motive and timing.

"Honestly, it looks like we are jumping in because some people were
arrested," said Washington County Sheriff Pat Ballard.

Former Washington County IT director Larry Rhynerson said, "I think
you should test the elected officials" before he was quieted by the
board.

District Attorney Rick Esser pointed out that the former substance
abuse policy in the county employee handbook concluded by stating,
"the county has established a drug free awareness program fro the
purpose of informing employees about the dangers of drug abuse in the
workplace. Information about the drug-free awareness program may be
obtained from the Washington County Commissioners secretary."

Ferguson served as the commissioners secretary for the last three
years.

"I would really encourage the county to adapt some sort of drug and
alcohol policy," Frech said.

At one point in the meeting, a citizen, Larry Marable, attempted to
speak on the matter of the absence of a public comment section on the
commissioners agenda but he was quickly quieted by the board.

According to the Washington County Clerk's office, the "public
comment" item has been omitted from agendas since Oct. 22, 2007.