ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Mayor Tony Kennon likes the fact Orange Beach lets full-time and part-time employees use recreational facilities for free.

But he wants to take it a step further.

“An employee who plans to use it only by himself saves $75,” he said. “An employee who plans to bring his family in does not recognize a $75 savings because of the way it’s structured.”

On June 19 the council passed a resolution making the services free for not only all employees, but their immediate families as well.

“If I’ve got three people in my family it costs me the same whether I’m free or not,” he said. “What I would like to offer is we allow all our employees, full- and part-time, and all of their families, to be able to use all of our facilities including golf. Immediate family, spouse and children.”

Kennon says it won’t be an expense for the city, but he can see some benefits.

“I don’t think it cost us anything, it’s just an added benefit,” he said. “It’s an incentive to exercise with a family, develop your family and bring them along with an exercise mentality, a fitness mentality.”

During discussion at a committee of the whole meeting earlier this month, Councilwoman Pattisue Simpson said she was concerned about citizens as well.

“A few years ago we increased the fee because of finances and the state of the city,” she said. “And we increased the fees on residents and it doesn’t matter if the residents have one family member or three family members they are paying the same fee. I was just wondering why we’re giving a break to the employees and not to the residents.”

Before the raise in fees, residents were paying $25 a year to use the weight room, gymnasium and pool at the complex. Since the raise to $75 for individuals and $150 for families, the weight room has been expanded, new equipment bought and members have 24-hour access to the weight room and cardio machines.

At the Bodenheimer Center in Gulf Shores, an individual membership to use the walking track, basketball court, racquetball courts, and weight room and cardio machines is $180 a year. For a family it rises to $360 a year.

Those prices do not include access to the indoor swimming pool and the fitness area is not accessible 24 hours a day. Nonresidents can join with a single membership of $360 a year or $540 a year to add family members.

“If you feel like that should be a free amenity for the residents then someone should make that motion,” Kennon said. “I don’t think it should be. I think $75 a year or $150 a year (for a family) is an extremely fair price.

“I don’t think it’s a good policy to give things away. I think giving a good deal is good policy.”

Simpson agreed with the proposal for employees and their families, but said she wanted to keep an eye on budgets to see if the future will allow the council to cut the rate residents pay.

“I would like it when we do look at the end of the year budget coming up that we do look at the finances of the rec center and if it’s possible to give residents a break if they have multi members in their family,” she said. “Just to follow-up on my concern that I mentioned during the committee of the whole, I’d never turn down a benefit for our employees. I think we’ve saved just over $200,000 on the power system.”

Simpson joined in a unanimous vote to give employees’ families free access to the recreation center, pool and golf course. Councilman Brett Holk asked if that included a cart.

“Good point,” Kennon said with a chuckle. “No cart. If it’s a health and wellness amenity, you need to walk.”

Kennon said it’s not only a perk for current employees, but might be an incentive when the city is looking to hire new workers.

“It’s a way to take care of our employees in face of difficulty of getting raises, cutting health care,” he said. “But this is a way that doesn’t cost anything that we can give something back.

“Secondly, if we move toward self-insurance we may actually see this money recouped if we can really get folks involved in a health and wellness lifestyle. That will be my goal.”

Kennon said he would like to see the recreation center evolve to offer even more to employees and citizens alike.

“I’m going to make some suggestions later on of how we turn it into more of a health and wellness facility,” he said.