Vice President of Support Services at Southeastern Regional Medical Center David Sumner, President and CEO of Southeastern Regional Medical Center Joann Anderson, Fairmont Mayor Charles Kemp, Director of Southeastern Lifestyle Center Montressa Smith and Manager of Fitness Services Mike Jimenez commemorate the start of a senior fitness program at Fairmont's Board of Commissioner's meeting on Tuesday. | Contributed

slideshow

FAIRMONT — Seniors in Fairmont will soon have a new way to get fit at a low price, Fairmont Mayor Charles Kemp said at Tuesday’s meeting of the town Board of Commissioners.

A new senior fitness program, “Fairmont’s Gettin’ Fit,” will make chair aerobics and line dancing classes available to people 50 years old and older at Fairmont’s Heritage Center for $3 per class, Kemp said.

The program, set to begin on Sept. 10, is in partnership with Southeastern Regional Medical Center and Southeastern Lifestyle Fitness Center. Montressa Smith, director of the fitness center, said expanding services was a part of the center’s business plan.

“We would actually look for any opportunity we could to go out in the community and offer services for those who may not have the means, or the transportation, or their schedules would not allow them to get to where we are,” Smith said.

The classes will be held on Monday and Thursday mornings.

“If we can do anything to make Fairmont a healthier community, that’s what we’re there for,” said Joann Anderson, president and CEO of the medical center.

Also on Tuesday, the board accepted a three-year Governor’s Highway Safety Program grant, which provides salary, training and benefits for a police officer to work nights and weekends.

Fairmont Police Chief Danny Parker said that a study by the Governor’s Highway Safety team had indicated that Robeson County “has a problem.”

“We have been been No. 1 for the past seven straight years with highway safety deaths as related to speed and alcohol,” he said. “… They’ve been trying for several years to get those numbers down.”

The $101,346 grant will help pay for the officer’s salary and training for three years. The grant will also provide the Police Department with an additional patrol car.

In other action on Tuesday, the board:

— Adopted a policy of mutual assistance with other law enforcement agencies.

— Approved a three-year update to Robeson County Solid Waste Management plan.

— Adopted a resolution to celebrate Robeson County’s 225th birthday. The county plans a celebration on Sept. 13 at the Department of Social Services.

— Discussed at length the drafts of an ordinance allowing the use of golf carts within the town limits, and a policy to regulate Fairmont Police Department’s towing and recovery procedures. A decision on both items is expected at the board’s Sept. 18 meeting.