Drug testing on hold due to council

Thursday, April 19, 2007

CLOVERDALE -- Because of a hold up, Midwest Toxicology recently told Cloverdale Clerk/Treasurer Patti Truax that it would discontinue random drug testing of town employees.

In July 2006, the Cloverdale Town Council agreed to continue conducting drug testing with Midwest Toxicology.

In addition, the five board members of the council had agreed last year to take part in the drug testing randomly.

However, the company recently contacted Truax, saying a board member had refused to take part in the drug testing, causing a hold up.

Because of the hold up, Midwest Toxicology said it would discontinue its testing process.

On Tuesday, Truax asked the board members that if they did not want to be part of the testing, they needed to take their names off the random list so the testing could continue.

However, council Vice President Dennis Padgett questioned the process, saying he believed elected officials were not town employees and did not have to subject themselves to random testing.

Despite the discussion, board member Judy Whitaker said she would keep her name on the random list and did not have a problem with being tested randomly. Board member John Davis agreed.

Still, town attorney Allen Yackey said he would review the matter.

According to Truax, council members agreed to become involved in the random drug testing process in 2001.

In other business, the board:

  • Approved minutes for four meetings in March by a 5-0 vote.

  • Approved payroll claims of $294 for March 30.

  • Approved claims of $26,234.22 for March 26.

  • Approved claims of $52,440.88 for April 10.

  • Unanimously approved town Utility Manager Mike Gray to purchase additional software for a laptop computer estimated at $300.

  • Approved a measure for the utility department to purchase portable radios and a radio for a recently purchased dump truck. The radios were estimated at $1,500.

  • Gave a copy of a proposed Rules and Procedures manual for Allen Yackey to look over.

  • Heard a request from Cloverdale Community Housing Director Marie Leach asking the council to have the utility department come back to the property and dig out an area next to a ditch that has been an ongoing problem.

    Leach approached the board regarding the issue in October 2005, but recently said it had become a problem again.

    On Tuesday, she told the board the ditch needed dug out again.

    Glen Vickroy gave the motion to have Gray dig out the ditch with Sublett giving the second. However, no vote was taken on the issue.

    The board meets regularly on the second Tuesday of each month at Town Hall. Its next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., May 15.

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