ROCHERSTER HILLS, OAKLAND (The Detroit News), June 7, 2005:
Jim Price enjoys swimming laps in the pool and using the exercise equipment at the senior citizen center in Rochester.
But the Rochester Hills resident is 59, which puts him in the under-60 category at the crux of a controversy that has been brewing over allowing that age group to use the center's health and wellness facilities.
The original agreement between Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township called for use of the facility by residents 60 and older. Rochester and Oakland Township are willing to consider allowing younger members, but Rochester Hills has resisted changing the original agreement.
The Rochester City Council will decide June 13 whether a judge will break the deadlock. Mary Miller, director of the Older Person's Commission, said people 50 and older already have been using the health and wellness center since 2001. But an intergovernmental agreement between the three municipalities defines seniors as 60 and over. Those 50 and under were allowed to use the exercise rooms and to go on trips.
Hal Commerson, department head of the health and wellness center at the Older Persons Commission in Rochester thinks the controversy is inane. "I think its ridiculous," he said. "Everybody pays taxes and those under 60 help support his place. It's not like we don't have room for them here."
Price said the issue is frustrating.
"When you look back at the vote for the millage to provide money for the center, the advertisements said it would be for residents under age of 60, too. I voted for it and now they're talking about changing it for artificial reasons."
In terms of who actually uses the health facilities, 31 percent of those in the weight and exercise room are between 50 and 59, while that age group accounts for 12 percent of those using the pool, according to Mary Miller. "I have no problem with those under 60 using the facilities," said Miller. "They can only use the health and wellness center or go on trips, anyway. I look at it as a feeder system, similar to day care centers and regular schools. This gets them introduced to our senior services."
By Shawn D. Lewis
No comments:
Post a Comment