COUNTY WORKERS MAY SEE SCRUTINY

Groden Says Background Checks Needed

Anyone hired by St. Clair County in the future may be required to
undergo a background check and drug test.

County Administrator Shaun Groden proposed the idea to the county
Board of Commissioners to change the county's hiring policy.

Currently, very few county employees undergo any type of background
check. The main exception is uniformed officials, such as sheriff
department deputies and courthouse security personnel.

It is not known why the county never has had a policy on performing
background checks on new hires.

"It's just the age and era when it's becoming more prevalent," Groden
said on his decision to ask for a policy.

The county has about 1,000 full and part-time employees and Groden
said there are 50 to 100 new hires each year.

The exact cost is not yet known. Groden plans to have more details for
the commissioners at a meeting next month.

Groden said, however, that most of the background checks will be done
by the county's human-resources department. The majority of the cost
will come from contracting with a local hospital to perform drug testing.

There is no plan to do checks and drug testing on current employees
since most are protected by unions.

Groden, however, said random drug testing could be discussed during
contract negotiations.

County board Chairman Wallace Evans, R-Ira Township, said he supports
the idea of background checks and drug testing. He said it is
something he has done at his own business and when he was employed in
Macomb County.

"If management doesn't do some of these things, if they turn their
heads, it can cause more problems for people," Evans said, adding he
also supports an employee-assistance program for people who have minor
blemishes on their records. "It opens options back up for them and can
change their lifestyle."