Some area vets say they're being kicked out of government funded gym
-->By: Jennifer Lee
Updated: March 11, 2013
Area veterans say they're not getting what they deserve. A Rome fitness center known as the Colosseum at the Griffiss Technology Park is telling some veterans to go elsewhere.
A representative of the Air Force Research Lab or AFRL says they're limiting the access to the facility because of the type of funding used to operate the gym. Officials say this move does not deal with the sequester cuts.
But, some area veterans will soon have to find alternatives to stay in shape.
"They are going to kick us out at the end of the month," said Army veteran Brad Edwards.
"I spent twenty years on that flight line making sure those bombers and tankers were getting off the ground to defend this country. Now they're telling me they don't have the money to let me in a $800,000 fitness center that is being underutilized. Something is wrong," explained Melven Derr, a retired Master Sgt. of the Air Force.
Derr is one of 255 military retirees registered to work out at the Colosseum.
The fitness center is operated by three organizations known as the Colosseum Executive Stakeholders Group made up of AFRL, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service and Eastern Air Defense Sector.
The facility is funded by appropriated funds, money that veterans say do not support the retirees.
Officials say the change is due to a tight budget. In a statement to Eyewitness News, a representative says based on DoD regulations and guidance, there will be "limited access to the facility."
Which means come April 1st, active duty members and their family and DoD civilian employees will be the only people allowed in the gym.
"I'm hoping they change their minds and say wait a minute these guys have served their country for 20 years. We have a facility, a government facility. It's underutilized. What do we have to lose," said Derr.
Officials say they are currently looking to resolve this situation.
