Wellness Center appoints director

By Jordan Cohen | March 13, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

The board needs to raise at least $150,000 for equipment.

NILES — In its first meeting, Wellness Center Advisory Council appointed Scott MacMillan as center director until November. MacMillan, president of the Ohio Youth Soccer Association, has been guiding the city’s fund-raising efforts to cover the cost of equipment.

“We’ll need from $150,000 to $180,000,” MacMillan said. “Ideally, I hope we can raise a quarter-million.”

Groundbreaking for the $4 million, 70,000-square-foot facility located by Waddell Park was last week. It is scheduled to open in November.

The council spent most of its first meeting Wednesday discussing advertising strategies, which it hopes to implement by working with the Regional Chamber.

“We need to get the community and corporations involved,” said Jeff Crowley of Huntington Bank, a committee member.

To that end, the council plans to have a business mixer April 24, in which it hopes to generate interest, sponsorships and contributions.

MacMillan said sponsorships through advertising signs offer the most financial potential. He said a huge sign to be placed in center of the facility’s indoor field could bring in $40,000 through a sponsorship. Also under consideration is the sale of memorial plaques at $100 each.

MacMillan believes if the city is successful with additional signage sales on the walls and floor “we should be able to more than cover our costs.”

The director said any surplus would be allocated to paying down construction debt.

Mayor Ralph Infante said Niles residents will not have to pay a membership fee. They will be required to pay for the building’s entrance card along with costs for any additional programs the center may offer. Membership fees for nonresidents have not been determined.

Infante says MacMillan will be paid $500 per month under the service contract until the center’s opening.

“We’ll look and see how things are going after that,” the mayor added.