PARSONS – City of Parsons employees will now be required to submit to drug and alcohol testing. Parsons City Council members voted unanimously Aug. 5 to contract with Absolute Assurance for the testing, and changed their personnel policy to one of zero tolerance.
Jason Myers, Parsons City Administrator/Treasurer said policy previously allowed employees who tested positive a 30-day leave of absence to attend counseling. If employees completed the program successfully, they were permitted to return to their jobs. With the new policy, those that test positive and are confirmed, will be terminated.
“Derek Wall from Absolute Assurance came and talked with council members Tuesday about the new testing. Council voted to use their services and we will begin by testing some employees this week,” Myers said on Aug. 6.
Myers said all city employees would be tested initially, and follow ups would be conducted through random testing.
“Absolute Assurance testing is backed by federally-based labs,” Myers said.
In other news, Parsons Council members set fall cleanup for Oct. 13 to 17, and Trick or Treat for 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Myers said he hopes there will be an update on the Pulp Mill Bottom dike by next council meeting.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representative Bill Leonart is talking with the other agencies involved, and I hope to have an update by next meeting,” Myers said.
The next Parsons City Council meeting is slated for 6 p.m. Aug 19.
Article By Beth Christian Broschart
Staff Writer/The InterMountain