Only three of the five Indianola Aldermen were present for Monday night’s meeting, but the city’s business did proceed as planned.
The vote was 2-1, with Alderman Ruben Wood voting no, to sign a contract with Marvell Labs of Greenwood to manage a random drug testing program for city employees.
Marvell Labs will use a random number selection process to administer two types of tests.
One is a nine-panel test for safety-sensitive employees and the other is a five-panel check for non-safety sensitive workers.
It will cost the city a $10-$12 per person administrative service fee plus an additional $57.35 for the safety sensitive personnel and $45.15 for the remainder of the city workers.
Before the vote, questions arose from the board and audience. They asked if any advertising was done for the service, why was this the only firm being considered when others agencies conducted drug testing, how was it chosen and who was qualified to do the field-testing.
Mayor Steve Rosenthal explained that although other firms do engage in drug testing, those other firms do not manage the programs. He said they wanted someone to assist in establishing a policy and a way to take the testing process completely out of the hands of the city so there would be no questions about the fairness of it.
He also told them that no other company had approached the city with such a proposal. Amanda Hammond, spokesperson and co-owner further explained that they were consulting with other potential clients in the area and just decided to reach out to the city and present their services.
Wood asked if they could bid it out or get another quote, Rosenthal added that he did not have a problem with doing that. Alderman Dana Myrick inquired of the audience if they knew of anyone else who provided the services but none did. He then made the motion to approve and Alderman Carver Randle Jr., seconded.
Hammond and her husband Trey appeared before the board at its Sept. 11 meeting to make their presentation but the item was tabled for further review.
In other business, the aldermen also,
Entertained a discussion on the voting machines after Myrick had the item added to the agenda. Myrick said he just wanted to make sure that anyone who had an interest in how the machines were calibrated knew the date, location and time of the process so they could attend if they wanted.
Rosenthal said typically the machines would be calibrated a few days before the election and then locked in the city hall annex building. Candidate Marvin Elders asked if the locks to the hall would be changed as it was done in times past and Rosenthal responded that they possibly would.
Alderman Ruben Wood then asked if a name could be removed from the ballot since the machines have not been calibrated yet because he heard that a candidate dropped from the race. Rosenthal and Interim City Clerk Charlotte Kilgore explained that although it could be physically done the secretary of state prohibits the removal since the ballot had already been approved, printed and absentee ballots have been sent out.
Other questions arose from the audience including who and how many persons deliver the voting machines and who will have keys to the building once the locks are changed. Rosenthal told them that all of those type questions would have to be directed to the Indianola Democratic Executive Committee, because the city is not involved in this election.
Heard and approved monthly reports from the Hough-Dement Animal Shelter, Inspection Department and Police Department, which reported 1,298 calls for the month of August and 68 arrests. In addition, Chief Edrick Hall reported 45 felony calls of which 18 felony arrests resulted. He currently has two pending warrants, four refusals to prosecute and six cases were suspended due to lack of cooperation from the victims.
Approved street closures for the Gentry High Homecoming parade and a downtown event that Saturday night that will close a portion of Front Street from Main to Second streets to through traffic. They also approved a waiver of the “no burn” ordinance for a homecoming bonfire, a waiver of a “loud noise” ordinance for a gathering Oct 6., and approved the use of a bullhorn on Oct. 9 and Oct. 10.
Took no action on a request from some Church Street club owners to extend their operating hours during the Gentry Homecoming weekend, Oct. 6 and Oct. 7. Hall told the board that in the interest of safety and the strain on his officers for that weekend, he was not for extending the hours. They not only have to cover the parade, game and activities on Friday, but several events on Saturday.
Rosenthal called the Gentry Homecoming weekend the largest event for the city because of the huge tailgating crowds. The audience and board members questioned Hall extensively about his plans for police coverage on that weekend. He told them that the board has approved hiring additional officers to assist and he and his department would be vigilant.
Voted to declare several Public Works Department items as surplus.
And after emerging from executive session, the board voted to accept the resignation of a crossing guard and a part-time police officer, move another crossing guard from probationary status, suspend a police dispatcher for 24 hours and hire a new fulltime police officer and two part-time officers pending passing preliminary screenings.
