CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The City of Chattanooga’s recent plan to buy workout equipment exclusively for wastewater treatment employees is raising questions about the city’s spending priorities.
The city council approved over $80,000 for new fitness equipment that only wastewater staff will use. This decision comes despite city officials emphasizing limited funding in this year’s budget.
Currently, all city employees have free access to fitness equipment at the downtown Chattanooga Well Advantage building. This makes the new purchase a point of concern for some.
Mark Heinzer, the wastewater department’s administrator, defended the $85,000 price tag. He said the investment promotes healthy lifestyles among employees who perform physically demanding jobs. “We want our staff to be in good shape to handle their work,” Heinzer said.
However, some city council members questioned if this was the right time for such spending. One member said, “I support fitness equipment, but $85,000 during a tight budget year is worrying.”
Mayor Tim Kelly’s chief of staff, Kevin Roig, echoed concerns about limited city funds. “The reality we face is that funding is tight,” he said.
Heinzer explained that the project has been planned for years and is funded separately from the general city budget. “It’s part of the wastewater fund and not from the general fund,” he said.
Stephanie Cepak, spokesperson for Mayor Kelly, said the investment aligns with efforts to support employee health and morale across all city departments. “We value the commitment of every city employee and care about their well-being,” Cepak said.
The fitness equipment will be installed inside the wastewater treatment facility. When asked if other city employees would be allowed access, Heinzer said the plan is to restrict use to wastewater staff only. “We want to be able to track who is using the equipment,” he explained.
