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Board approves after‑hours drug‑screening agreement with Tri‑State Nursing over one dissent
Summary
The Woodbury County Board approved a service agreement with Tri‑State Nursing to provide after‑hours employee drug screening following workplace accidents, saying the vendor will come to the county and noting there is no local alternative. The motion passed 4–1 with Supervisor Carper opposed.
Melissa Thomas, human resources director, told the Woodbury County Board the agreement would allow Tri‑State Nursing to perform after‑hours drug screening for county employees following accidents or other incidents and that the provider will travel to county facilities for screenings.
"There's no other place in town besides the emergency room for our employees to go if they do need a drug screen," Melissa Thomas said, describing the arrangement as a convenience that should reduce duplication and cost.
The board discussed the cost and efficacy of using a traveling provider. One board member said they had worked with the company previously and experienced poor outcomes; Thomas responded that the agreement had been reviewed by the assistant county attorney and framed it as a better option than routing employees through the emergency room and incurring double charges.
The motion to approve the service agreement was made by Bittinger and seconded by Nelson. The board approved the contract on a 4–1 vote; Supervisor Carper recorded the lone negative vote. The board did not provide a detailed breakdown of the contract cost during the public discussion.
The county will proceed with the service agreement and implement the after‑hours screening process through Tri‑State Nursing. The item was presented as part of the human resources agenda and will be handled administratively by that office.
