Liberty trustees approve fitness plan for residents

By John w. Goodwin jr.

A trustee said the township’s firefighters have been involved in a health and wellness program.

LIBERTY — Township residents will see a new townshipwide fitness initiative come into play.

Jim Rose of Optimal Health Professionals in Boardman presented township officials with a “wellness initiative to promote a healthier Liberty Township.” Trustees voted 3-0 Monday to approve the plan.

The initiative will not cost the township any money.

According to information supplied to the township by Rose, the initiative will include a different townshipwide health event each month in which residents would have the option to participate. Some of the events include a life walk, exercise sessions in the parks, healthy shopping exhibits and body-fat assessments.

Rose, in the information provided, said he plans to get schools and a list of local businesses involved in the initiative. The schools would have art contests and speaking engagements covering health and wellness.

The mission of the initiative, detailed in the information supplied by Rose, is to provide residents with facts about nutrition and exercise, educate families about disease prevention and help families and businesses reduce the costs of health-care premiums.

Trustee Jodi Stoyak said Rose came to trustees before and presented the same plan, but trustees wanted more information before deciding to endorse or reject the proposal. She said she is now absolutely in favor of moving forward with the health initiative.

“I feel this is a great idea for us to do this,” she said. “He came to a previous meeting and presented what he wanted to do, and we didn’t do anything; it was put off. But this is a great program and a great initiative by the township to promote wellness.”

According to Stoyak, Rose has been working with township firefighters on issues concerning health and wellness for an extended period of time. She said a townshipwide program on wellness would be a pilot program for Rose, but she is happy that he selected the township to try such a program.

“I know it’s something he hasn’t done before, and I am glad that he chose us to lead the way in doing this,” she said.

Stoyak said she has received a legal opinion from Atty. Mark S. Finamore, the township’s legal representative, stating there is no legal basis for the township not to endorse or participate in such a wellness program.

jgoodwin@vindy.com