McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

November 28, 2009

County adds drug tests for new hires

By John Yates

Drug testing will be mandatory for new employees hired by Pittsburg County following action taken by Pittsburg County Commissioners recently.

The commission also adopted a drug and alcohol testing policy and updated the county’s personnel policy.

Commissioners updated the county’s approved policy, but Commissioner Kevin Smith said the mandatory drug testing for new hires is a new feature for Pittsburg County.

Commissioners selected a local company to do the testing for the county: Southeastern Drug Testing, of McAlester.

No fixed dollar amount was placed on the work at the time the selection was made, but the McAlester company had submitted rates. For instance, new hires for the county will have both urinalysis and breath alcohol testing, which together would cost $70 for each new employee. Smith estimated the county hires 25-30 people a year, bringing the potential testing cost to $2,000 a year. He said the county road crews have little turnover, but there are new hires in law enforcement.

Random testing will also be done with most of the existing county employees. Smith said employees who drive county-owned vehicles, who deal with inmates, or who handle drugs such as those at the county animal shelter are subject to drug testing. He estimated 70-75 percent of the county’s workforce would be tested, or 150-175 employees.

Commission Chairman Gene Rogers pointed out that under the new policy, an employee taking medication that would interfere with drug test results is responsible for informing the county of it.

John Yates is the news director for McAlester Radio.

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