ROGERS — The first thing a member of the Adult Wellness Center sees when walking in the door is a sign stating “Your opinion counts.”
At A Glance
Adult Wellness Center
The center is open to adults 50 and older. The center has an indoor track, exercise machines, meeting rooms, a kitchen/dining area, an indoor therapeutic pool and a lap pool, a gymnasium and other amenities. The annual membership fee is $25 for residents and nonresidents. The annual expenses of the center are estimated at $876,175, according to the 2013 budget. Revenue for the same period is estimated at $395,000.
Source: Staff Report
The opinion of interest currently involves the possibility of increasing the annual fee center members pay.
Last week, center staff sent out about 8,000 questionnaires to active members asking their opinions on fees.
The annual $25 fee hasn’t changed since the center opened six years ago. City sales tax revenue covers about 50 percent of the center’s operating cost. The membership fee is the same for out-of-town residents as it is for Rogers residents.
The remainder of the center’s operation is paid for with revenue from insurance reimbursements, donations and fundraisers staged by center members and staff.
“The building and the equipment is getting older and additional maintenance is necessary,” said Lesli Ossenfort, center director.
The center was never intended to be self-sufficient, Ossenfort said.
“However, no one ever though the center would be as successful in attracting members from across Northwest Arkansas as it has been. The cost of operation has continued to rise without a cost increase being passed on to our membership,” Ossenfort said.
The center has about 15,000 members, including about 9,000 members who use the center daily or weekly.
When the process to establish the 2013 budget began last year, there was some discussion among aldermen about the membership fee, although no steps were taken to raise the fee.
“Working with the aldermen and the mayor, we put together some questions late last year. After a few rounds of changes we came up with what we thought were the right questions,” Ossenfort said. “We wanted to give the members an opportunity to weigh in on the fee conversation. We think the questions allow the members to state what they think the annual fee should be and whether nonresidents should pay more to join.”
“We are getting a lot of response, all positive to the questionnaire,” said Arlene Farmer, a center volunteer, pointing to a box for completed surveys on the front counter.
The box, about the size of two shoe boxes, appeared to be more than half full Thursday.
“I think the survey is an excellent idea,” said Cindy Fountain, a center member from Bentonville. “This is a great bargain at $25 a year. I wouldn’t mind paying more. There isn’t another place like this anywhere in this area. It wouldn’t bother me if the fee doubled, it would still be a bargain.”
Kathy Morey, a charter member, agreed the fee should probably be increased.
“I’ve been a member of other health clubs and you will pay $75 a month or more for those clubs. They could raise the rate to $100 a year and I would pay it,” Morey said. “The center needs more money. I don’t think the city should have to support the center as much as it does.”
Morey said she had already turned in her questionnaire.
Ossenfort said center members and the staff need to close the gap between cost and revenue.
“Many of our members don’t know how the center is funded. This survey is a tool for us make a better decision about fees and funding the center,” she said.
Completed surveys are due by Jan. 31. They can be mailed to the center at 2001 W. Persimmon St. or dropped off at the center.