GEORGETOWN COUNCIL DISCUSSES DRUG POLICY

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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.