Council members Greg Lawson and Ernest Bobbitt questioned the inclusion of $54,000 of fitness room equipment in the city’s capital budget when they feel there are more pressing needs.
The equipment is part of the Parks and Recreation Department’s goal to have a fitness center at T.J. Davis Recreation Center.
City Manager Paul Sabiston did not recommend the proposed appropriation be cut from the capital budget. “It does have a revenue aspect,” he said.
Lawson said, however, “When I look and see we don’t have (funds for a) generator and swivel for the fire truck, $54,000 could be be better spent on critical needs, making sure when a firefighter climbs to the top of ladder it won’t collapse.”
Sabiston said Lawson’s concern was legitimate. “This is coming from me and (finance director) MeLinda (Hite). In all fairness this has a chance of paying for itself and netting us money.”
The city manager said the investment, through memberships, could bring the city back $120,000 in two years and that much of the equipment could be financed. “We won’t net a dollar if we take it out. It will be flat.”
Sabiston contends that if the program pays for itself it could pay for other capital items.
Bobbitt agreed with Lawson. “We’ve sure got a commodity of things that have got to be fixed up,” he said. “I’d rather see it replace bleachers, lockers. I know a survey (on interest in the fitness center) was done. In the presentation the talk is about it’s good to have but there are other issues we need to get up that have been postponed for years and years and years.”
Sabiston again explained, “If you take that out, you don’t net any money. When you say fix lockers and tennis courts and you don’t have $54,000 to spend, you have $75,000 less in the budget than we have right now. We’re even less likely to do those things. This has a return and makes us money. Tennis courts don’t net us any money. This is money ... to spend.”
Bobbitt contends it would cost $19,000 to finance the fitness room plus splitting costs for volunteers. “With all due respect there will be a request for a full time (employee). If it’s worth having, it’s worth waiting for. We have more pressing needs. It doesn’t need to be in this year’s budget.”
Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon, responding to a question by Mayor Emery Doughtie, said, “Initially we talked about we would presell (memberships). It worked very well in other municipalities we’ve looked at. I do think there is the possibility of preselling.”
Sabiston said there was discussion of selling sponsorships. “We’ve been thinking about having a five year plan to really raise revenues. We’re trying to raise funds before ever going into debt.”
Lawson said he was scared of the economic situation. “What scares me is today’s economy. I don’t know that people have that disposable income ... I’m thinking about immediately in Roanoke Rapids people are struggling. It’s a great concept. I 100 percent support it. I’m worried about whether people can come through.
“Right now I’m struggling with it. I don’t want to see it go away ... It’s going to be a council decision. I have to stress that.”
Bobbitt said, “Some of those bleachers, I wouldn’t put my own worst enemy on. It’s the same way with the leaf machine. We’ve got to pick up leaves. How are we going to dig without a backhoe?”
Doughtie said the city would have to prioritize. “I’m concerned about public safety, too,” he said of sidewalk trip hazards and other safety concerns. “It’s worse when you know you have a problem. We have to come to an agreement on which is most important.”
