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.

In other business:

Georgetown property owner Charlie Bradley appeared before council to
express concerns of water drainage problems on village streets and
sidewalks. Jones said he was currently awaiting cost from contractors
to fix the problem.

Jones alerted council that he has posted a job in the Cincinnati
Enquirer for a level one, two or three Waste Water Plant Supervisor
but the only response he's received is from people without a waste
water operator's license. According to Jones, the Village of
Georgetown is looking at $400,000 to $1 million in necessary waste
water plant improvements to take place in the future.

At 10 a.m. on Nov. 11, the Village of Georgetown will hold an auction
of village equipment, which will also include items supplied by the
Village of Ripley. Auctioneer Services will be provided by Campbell's
Auctioneers of Ripley.

Georgetown Police Chief Buddy Coburn announced that the Georgetown
Police Department web site, www.geopd.com, has been improved.

"We're getting a lot of response from it," Coburn said of the web
site.

Council members, at the request of Dale Cahall, agreed to make a
donation to United Way. After village officials dug into their
wallets and came up with $211 to donate to United Way, council voted
to allow the Village of Georgetown to match their contribution. The
donation to United Way, including the personal donation from village
officials and the match by the Village of Georgetown, totaled $422.

"We issue a challenge to all other councils," said Georgetown Mayor
John Jandes after making the donation to the United Way.

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