Cloverdale Council sticks with Midwest

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

On Tuesday, the Cloverdale Town Council voted to keep using Midwest Toxicology as its employee drug testing agency.

Cloverdale Town Clerk/Treasurer Patti Truax compared Midwest Toxicology with Indiana Testing, Inc., a company that recently expressed interest in doing business with the town.

Truax told the town board on Tuesday that after getting quotes from both agencies, she believed it would be in the town's best interest to maintain its partnership with Midwest Toxicology.

Truax said she felt because Indiana Testing does not have a mobile unit, it would be best to stay with Midwest Toxicology.

She said she had recently contacted Indiana Testing and confirmed the company would use town facilities for drug testing. She said she was told by Indiana Testing she would have to submit names of employees to the company -- including social security numbers -- and the information would be placed into a computer system. The names would then be randomly drawn and sent back to Truax.

She told the council on Tuesday that Indiana Testing informed her she would have up to three months to pick a date for the company to come to Cloverdale to conduct the testing.

In contrast, Truax said, Midwest Toxicology informed her it would call her with a date for testing and a list of names would be presented to her upon arrival.

Although staying with Midwest Toxicology would include a $12 increase, Truax told the board she felt it was the best thing to do.

Council member Judy Whitaker made the motion to stay with Midwest, with Glen Vickroy giving the second. The board approved the measure, 5-0.

Indiana Testing, Inc. representative Mike Williams approached the Cloverdale Town Council in May regarding the issue. However, Williams was unable to attend Tuesday's meeting.

Meanwhile, the board learned from Town Police Chief Charlie Hallam that there was little money left for police car maintenance.

On Tuesday, Hallam told the board there was nearly $400 left for vehicle maintenance for 2006. He said that was probably enough money for oil changes for the rest of the year.

Hallam said because of this, officers may have to double up in vehicles periodically.

In other news, the board:

-- Learned Park Board member Pat Steele had submitted her letter of resignation.

-- Approved transfer resolution 2006-7 in the amount of $23,876.92.

-- Approved emergency claims dated June 29 in the amount of $128,800.35.

-- Approved July 11 claims in the amount of $60,422.16.

-- Learned that some property owners recently complained about the U.S. 231/SR 42 project. Utilities manager Mike Gray said the complaints would be handled.

-- Learned a recent survey for Sewer Plant Road had recently been completed.

-- Learned that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management recently contacted Gray about a 50-50 recycling grant it wanted the town to get involved in.

-- Learned the raw flow meter at the wastewater plant needed repairs, but Gray could not confirm a cost.

-- Learned that mowing crews for Clay County Rural Telephone Company would be putting in fiber drops.

-- Approved a measure by a 5-0 vote to allow town utility workers to work overtime to catch up on work.

-- Learned that Hallam did not have ample enough time to seek bids to change the lighting fixtures in the police department.

-- Learned from Hallam that there was little money left for vehicle maintenance.

-- Unanimously approved a maintenance agreement with Komputrol, beginning Sept. 1, 2006, for $2,720. The agreement will last one year.

-- Learned from Redevelopment Commis-sion President Don Gedert that Crossroads Arena had recently broken ground for its proposed horse show arena.

The council meets regularly on the second Tuesday of each month at Town Hall. Its next scheduled meeting is set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 8.

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