Culver Town Council President Bill Githens initiated a discussion Tuesday night concerning the town’s match toward a proposed Blue Zones initiative that is reportedly designed to improve access to health and wellness for residents. The topic was not an agenda item.
According to information about the program in stories contributed to MAX News by Jamie Fleury from The Pilot News, Blue Zones helps establish places including restaurants and grocery stores that offer healthy food options and increase walking trails, an initiative already embraced by Marshall County through Stellar and Regional Cities, to help increase access to improved health factors.
The project is anticipated to catalyze more economic development and ensure healthier workforces are more productive. Projects that focus on health and wellness also increase access to additional grant funding.
The Culver Town Council previously voted to support a match of $75,000 toward the initiative, if it was awarded READI Grant funds.
Githens commented that he believes that the council should rescind $25,000 from the 2023 budget that would have gone toward a first-year match for the Blue Zones initiative. He commented that he is against Blue Zones and does not see the benefit of it. He said the $25,000 could be spent on salaries for employees as a mid-year raise, or other purpose, rather than support Blue Zones.
Councilwoman Sally Ricciardi said what she knows about Blue Zones, it would be a good program and would hate to see the town give up on it before it is even started.
Councilman Bill Cleavenger said he was concerned about the administrative costs of the program. Councilman Bill Hamm made unsupportive comments for the program as well.
Councilman Cleavenger made a motion to rescind the $25,000 in matching funds for 2023 with a second by Councilman Bill Hamm. The motion was supported by Bill Githens, Bill Cleavenger and Bill Hamm. Council members Rich West and Sally Ricciardi opposed the motion. The motion passed by a majority vote of 3-2.
