New Recreation Center to Officially Open/Free Memberships Debated

It was announced at Monday's Council Meeting (Aug. 24th) that the new multi-million dollar Volanta Park Recreation Center will have its "Grand Opening"/ribbon-cutting on Saturday, September 12 at 10 AM. (The facility has actually been open since Aug. 1st.) Councilman Lonnie Mixon brought forward a preliminary resolution "for discussion only"-- to give free memberships to active police and fire personnel (provided they use them regularly). Mixon: "I know other cities do this to help policemen/firemen stay in shape . . . its in the community's interest for them to do so . . . but I wouldn't want to just arbitrarily give everyone a free membership . . . and take up a number of spots. Let's get the Police Chief and staff to look at it-- and (maybe) if someone went a (mandatory) minimum--say 3 times a month . . . their membership would be free." Councilman Ford: "This is for the person only then, not their whole family?" Mixon: "Yes." Council President Quinn: "I'd like to make sure this goes to the Police Chief, Liz Chandler (the new Rec. Center's Director), Eddie Boyette; and the Rec. Board probably needs to weigh in on this as well. I think there's a lot of things we need to look at. I got a petition today from (the other) City employees-- who say if you're going to do it for them (police/fire) --you need to do it for everyone." "It's just another thing to think about," concluded Quinn. [Publisher's Note: The Mayor did not attend this Council meeting}

Comments

FireDawg said…
It is a good idea for the center to give police and firefighters free membership. I don't have a problem with it being for their IMMEDIATE family as well. They give their lives for the city. I think it's great the city give something back.
SusieQ907 said…
How about Colony Residents? We have to pay more tax than everybody else in town. Why don't we ever get a break? Like comedian Rodney Dangerfield used to say, "We don't get no respect.!"
Anonymous said…
city employees just want more and more benefits, at taxpayer's expense. like we all have bottomless pockets.
Miss Leslie said…
Isn't this a center for ALL citizens? Did taxpayer money build it? Will taxpayer money maintain and staff it? Seems to me the same rules should apply to EVERYONE, city employees and citizenry alike.
Anonymous said…
The firefighters are not paid employees of the city. They donate hundreds of hours of their time to the city. Giving the firefighters a free membership helps keep them healthy, thus maintaining the outstanding level of service, given to our city.