CHARLEVOIX, MI -- The City of Charlevoix is hoping to reap the benefits of living healthy.  They're offering incentives to all city employees who exercise and eat right. 

42 percent of Charlevoix city employees are already on this fitness plan.  It’s something that the human resources department says will improve the health of their employees, but also save you, the taxpayer, money.

You’ve got the city employees who get a workout in doing their jobs, like those who maintain the image of the city.  But you've also got the employees who aren't burning too many calories while working and choose to increase their heartbeat at lunch.  Patty Spencley is one of them.

“It's not a problem anymore to do that, you get more used to doing it, it's second nature," said Spencley.

She walks or rides her bike to and from work and sweats a little bit at lunch in the workout room right in the city building.  She’s part of Charlevoix’s "Ride the Path" program, which encourages city employees to get active, eat and drink healthy, and even volunteer. 

"It’s about money, but it's not all about money, it's about the people, and just getting them healthier," said Charlevoix’s Human Resources Assistant Jennifer Nash.

Last year, Nash got the program going, and this year, it has taken off.  She says healthier employees are more productive, use less sick time, and in the long-term, help reduce medical costs.

“Instead of going home and sitting around doing nothing, just get up and take a walk, and get some miles," said city employee Joe Niswender.

“There has to be a carrot you hang out there, so we do have an incentive program that's based on the activity units that they do," said Nash.

Activity units add up, and they get awards, like a new pedometer or a massage.

“It's the right thing to do as an employer," said Nash.

The grand prize is something for the employees to smile about.  If they log enough activity points, they get paid time off.