COMMISSION HIRES LOCAL ATTORNEY TO HELP WITH DRUG TESTING
PLAN

Kanawha County is one step closer to a drug testing policy for
employees after commissioners agreed to hire lawyers to oversee the effort.

The commission voted Thursday to hire local attorney Jan Fox to
advise the commission before it implements such a policy.

Commissioner Dave Hardy said he hopes the county will adopt a plan
similar to the one used by the City of Charleston.

He said Fox should review that plan and make it fit the county's needs.

"It's exactly what we want and I can't imagine why anyone would
oppose it," Hardy said. "It's a very fair policy."

Fox, an attorney for Steptoe and Johnson, PLLC, works primarily in
the field of employment law.

Last month, Hardy pitched a policy that would require employees in
safety-sensitive positions to be randomly tested for drugs. County
employees who carry firearms or operate county vehicles would be
subject to the tests.

The City of Charleston already randomly screens city workers in
safety-sensitive positions. The city's plan also has a safe harbor,
which allows employees to come forward and get counseling if they
admit to a drug habit prior to testing.

Charleston implemented its testing policy in 2002.

Commission President Kent Carper said he would like to test every
county employee no matter what his or her job is.

County attorney Marc Slotnick said state and federal privacy laws do
not allow mass testing for public employees.

If a drug testing policy is approved, it would be the first
drug-testing measure in use for all of Kanawha County's employees.

The Kanawha Regional Transportation Authority and Kanawha Valley
Ambulance Authority conduct random drug testing. The county school
system also has a mandatory testing policy in place for bus drivers.

Once a plan is drawn up, Carper wants to hold a special meeting and
have the commission go over the plan with all employees.

"I have no intention to vote for a policy unless I get to read it,"
Carper said. "We need to get a policy and give each and every
employee a chance to discuss it with us."

The commission has not determined a timeframe for the policy's implementation.

Also at Thursday's meeting, Carper was sworn in by Chief Circuit
Judge Duke Bloom for his third term in office.

Carper, a Democrat, won May's primary election and was unopposed in
last month's general election.

With the courtroom packed with friends and family and his wife
Debbie by his side, Carper took the oath of office. Carper assured
the audience he would be dedicated to helping residents for the next
six years.

"I promise to work as hard as ever before," Carper said. "I will
work with anyone to make sure this county moves forward."

Carper has been a county commissioner since 1996. He first was
appointed to complete the term of Gary King, who died in a skydiving
accident. Carper was elected to complete King's unexpired term in
the fall of 1996 and to his first regular six-year term in 2000.

In the coming term, Carper said he will focus on developing a
comprehensive economic development plan for the county.

Carper said he's working on the plan's specifics and will provide
more details after the first of the year.