Published: November 16, 2009 09:03 pm      

Council considers drug testing change

COVINGTON, Ind. — City council members are considering changing the city employee drug testing provider.

Mike Williams, president of International Testing Inc. of Indianapolis, gave the city council a presentation on the drug test services his company provides to employers Monday night.

Williams explained that his company provides drug testing services to around 1,500 entities. They use several types of testing methods including the use of hair samples, mouth swabs and urine samples. The type of test used is determined by the circumstance, such as how soon the test results are needed.

The city currently has nine employees with commercial driving licenses who are subject to random quarterly drug tests. In regards to the pricing of tests, Williams said that “all will be cost effective” and added that the city might want to consider drug testing as part of a group consortium for $69 per year.

Mayor Brad Crain told Williams the city council would consider the material he presented. Covington currently uses Midwest Toxicology of Indianapolis for its quarterly drug testing. One or two city employees with a CDL are randomly selected every quarter for drug testing at a cost to the city of $60 per employee.

In other business, councilmen:

-- Reviewed a sample agreement from Indiana Municipal Power Agency regarding net metering as discussed at the last city council meeting. Crain said that he learned that IMPA only allows credit for the return of 10 kilowatt hours. The council discussed the difficulty that will be involved in figuring out the billing with energy credits. The city will contact their computer utility billing provider about the matter.

-- Learned from Councilman Mark Switzer that he and councilman Dale White and park Superintendent Don Crowder will meet later this week to speak with the contractor to discuss plans for the new lifeguard house.

-- Learned from Crain that the leaf vac has been repaired and the city will continue to pick up leaves from street sides.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Covington City Council will meet at 7 p.m. EST Dec. 7 at the city building, 1329 Second St.