The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

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PRESCOTT - Cool weather and changing colors bring to mind warm sweaters, hot chocolate and football. Swimming is the last thing on most people's minds, unless you're a board member of the Prescott Joint Park and Recreation District (PJPRD), that is. For them, fall means once again lobbying to fund the Prescott Swimming Pool - a resource they'd like to see Prescott residents giving serious attention to as well.

In November, voters in Prescott's Parks and Rec. district will be asked to renew the pool's annual $110,000 maintenance and operations levy. The amount requested is the same as last year and Walla Walla County's estimate of the cost to taxpayers is 37 cents per $1,000 of evaluation, according to PJPRD chair Patsy Adams Warnock. This is down slightly from the 40 cents per $1,000 last year and 45 cents per $1,000 in 2012.

"PJPRD works hard to keep our operating costs as low as possible while keeping the pool, that was build in 1958, well maintained," said Adams. "Our big concern every year is to get a 60% yes for the proposition that is on the ballot."

Unlike city pools in Waitsburg and Dayton, that are funded by tax dollars and maintained by the cities, the Prescott pool is funded through an annual levy and maintained and operated by the PJPRD, a junior taxing district established in 1981. Each year, district voters must pass the M&O levy by a 60% super majority in order to keep the pool operating.

The 2013 levy passed with a 63.18% yes vote that allowed for a successful 77-day 2014 swim season with an average daily attendance of 72 swimmers. Groups from Prescott School District, College Place School District, Vista Hermosa and Walla Walla Camp Fire visited the pool throughout the summer.

"The Prescott Pool is the heart of community activity in the summer. It is a beautiful, well-main- tained place to spend a lovely summer day and to have a picnic," said Adams. The PJPRD hosted several family friendly events in 2014 including Safety Day, live music, a Pizza Mile, night swims and a car show.

The pool provided swimming lessons to 119 children last season. A $2,000 donation from Northwest Grain Growers allowed the pool to provide free swimming lessons to children living in the 99348 zip code. Non-residents paid $25 per session. "We're saving lives and enriching the experiences of children when we teach them to swim," said Adams.

This was the second year the pool has offered a successful Mom & Tot class geared for infants to 4-year-olds. "Our goal is to make the children comfortable with the water. At this age they really need one-on-one attention, which si why we include the parents," said pool administrative assistant Yvonne Jackson. Adults were able to take advantage of lap swim and water aerobics sessions.

The PJPRD M&O levy proposal is on the November General Election Mail-In Ballot which must be postmarked no later than Nov. 4. Because the population of the district is so small, Adams says it is critical that voters mail in their ballots.