PERRY MAY ADOPT DRUG POLICY

PERRY - The City Council might adopt a random drug-testing policy for its
city employees.

Tuesday, the council directed city attorney David Walker to look into the
possibility after Councilman Joe Kusar raised the issue.

"I can't imagine a job in the city where they should not be drug tested,"
Kusar said.

City Manager Lee Gilmour said only employees of the gas department are
tested randomly for drugs. He said the testing is required by a federal
mandate.

The city's drug policy also requires testing of city employees if they are
involved in an accident or for reasonable cause, Gilmour said.

Most Middle Georgia law enforcement agencies have drug-testing policies and
conduct random drug tests, including the Houston County Sheriff's Office,
where two deputies were fired recently for drug use.

The Perry Police Department is the exception, with drug testing required
only for pre-employment, in the event of accidents with injuries and for
probable cause.

Police Chief George Potter previously has said he favors random drug
testing for all employees - whether in the public or private sector.

In other business Tuesday, the council:

. Directed the Uptown Perry Partnership to proceed with its plans to use
the Gen. Courtney Hodges National Guard Armory as a regional arts center.
Other uses that had been proposed include a youth center, a meeting and
training center for Civil Air Patrol, a family life enrichment center for
tutorials and summer camps for kids, and an outreach center for
church-sponsored activities.

. Approved the acquisition of rights of way for the $4.48 million Ball
Street road project. The project is $347,033 over the amount budgeted in
the special purpose local option sales tax referendum approved countywide
for road improvements. Gilmour said the city will apply for state highway
monies to make up the difference. Rights of way acquisition was estimated
at about $260,000.

Appointed city employee carol fudge to serve as registrar so that city
residents may register to vote at city hall in upcoming city and other
elections.