The township-operated fitness centre has earned a small profit in 2011.
To the end of Dec. 12, 2011, the fitness centre netted a total of $21,257.
That compares favourably with last year, when the fitness centre was operated by an outside agency, Personal Best Fitness.
The fitness centre was costing the township just over $11,000 a month to operate. This year, the township took over the operation of the fitness centre, reducing the estimated monthly cost of operation to $7,300, by using township staff.
In fact, the monthly cost of operation for most months was even lower, with the township spending an average of  $4,981.50 per month over the months of April through November.
That cost will be reduced further this coming year, as recreation director Karen Makela has announced plans to not staff the fitness centre from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week. Instead, other staff at the Woolwich Memorial Centre will conduct regular “spot checks” on the fitness centre, to provide support to any customers using the facility during the day.
Last year, the recreation department faced a $500,000 deficit, with approximately $300,000 of the overexpenditure being attributed to the operating budget of the Woolwich Memorial Centre.