A new fitness program for Walker County employees is getting a real workout.

“This has really become a political football in the city of LaFayette,” Commissioner Bebe Heiskell about public criticism of the program. “But this was an administrative decision that was made with a two-fold purpose — to improve the health of the individual and to offer Walker County employees lower insurance premiums.”

The choice of the fitness facility has become the central issue. There are about a half-dozen fitness facilities in Walker.

Heiskell chose Jack Silberman’s The Key to Fitness facility, which in the Fieldstone Farms complex in Rock Spring.

Some are arguing that Heiskell should have opted for a facility in LaFayette or Chickamauga. Heiskell insists these facilities have shortcomings.

“We were able to negotiate a really low price (with Key to Fitness) for everyone eligible that will cost us $9.75 per month per employee. ... Also, it is located in the middle of the county. It is closer to the Fairview tax office, the county road department, code enforcement, building inspection, the record’s office, the 911 center, the agricultural center, the civic center, and nine fire departments.”

Heiskell said her decision was based on fairness.

“I thought, well if we go with a Chickamauga facility, LaFayette will be upset, and if we go with a LaFayette facility, Chickamauga will be upset,” Heiskell said. “So we had a Walker County resident that made this investment in the commercial strip at Fieldstone Farms that is centrally located in the county and that seemed to be the best answer to our need.”

Some have suggested that each county employee should be able pick the facility of his or her choice, with the county picking up the bill.

“I looked into this option,” Heiskell said, “but I couldn’t get the same kind of deal if it was broken up. It is a group plan like health insurance. I can’t afford to do it that way. I was offered deals by other facilities but I simply couldn’t get it at that kind of deal.”

Heiskell said the fitness program is not a requirement for county employees.

“Back at the end of last year the fire department wanted to put into their budget fitness money so they could go work out,” Heiskell said. “Then I thought, well you know the Sheriff’s Department is just as much in need of that sort of fitness program as the fire department. So I began to look around at facilities.”

Heiskell said that some fire department employees initially wanted to go to a gym in Fort Oglethorpe but she insisted this was not an option she supported.

“They were looking in Fort Oglethorpe and I said that I would not allow a plan that isn’t inside Walker County,” Heiskell said. “So we began to look around locally. The Fieldstone facility was new and modern, and some of the people from the fire department went ahead and joined up there. ... They began to solicit us and the deal they negotiated to us was the best.”

Heiskell said the program is available to all of the county’s 400 employees.

“You have to realize that most of our employees are men, and so programs offered by Curves (a fitness center tailored to women) was not an option we could consider,” Heiskell said.

Heiskell said she began seriously considering a fitness program for county employees in February because she saw the possibility of reducing their insurance premiums.

“We were going to be able to improve our insurance coverage through the cost of premiums by reducing claims through implementing a wellness program,” Heiskell said.

Heiskell said the intent of such a wellness program offered by the county could potentially cut down on the number of people who smoke, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and lower weight. Insurance companies, when writing individual health coverage policies, consider all of these factors.

“We want to encourage fitness, quality of lifestyle, and health because about 70 percent of the problems we have with our health in America is caused by our lifestyle,” Heiskell.

She said the new fitness plan incorporates many elements to improve the overall wellbeing of county personnel.

“We also are looking at doing a heart-healthy program and a cancer screening program with our new Rossville health facility which would also include providing physicals for our employees,” Heiskell said. “It’s all voluntary. They don’t have to participate in any of these programs, but they are there if they choose.”

Heiskell said county employee are not limited to the programs offered through the county, but the county will not pay for these.

“They are free to participate in other programs that best serve their personal needs,” Hesikell said. “We are offering a basic plan and it is simply an option they can participate in if they choose.”

Heiskell said she hopes the program will ultimately benefit every resident of Walker County.

“This will hopefully be a cost savings for the taxpayers of this county because we will off-set it (the cost of the program) in another way (by lowering insurance premiums paid for workers),” Heiskell said.