Local Parks and Rec districts place M&O levies on ballot

This year there will be four Maintenance and Operations Levies on the ballot Aug. 5 and all of them are comparable to last year.

The levy from Cemetery District No. 1 increased this year to $8,500, an estimated $0.19 per thousand dollars of assessed value.

The increase in the levy is due to increased operation costs for the cemetery. The cemetery also increased the price of its plots, from $200 to $300 to help cover the costs of maintaining the cemetery.

The increased cost, however, does not include the installation of a well in the Washtucna Cemetery or repairs to the water lines.

According to Adams County Cemetery District No. 1 Board Member Lora Hille the water line problem is still in the researching stages.

The Adams County Park and Recreation No. 2 is filing for a $45,500 levy, for the maintenance and operation of the Washtucna Pool, which reopened this month after extensive repairs. The costs of the repairs, however, have not caused an increase to the levy this year.

According to board member Codi Titus, attendance at the Washtucna Pool is high and swim lessons are scheduled to begin Aug. 4.

Next year the board plans to increase the pool’s handicap accessibility as well as do cosmetic work to the building. These projects could not be completed this year because of the resurfacing required to reopen the pool.

Adams County Park and Recreation No. 3 is filing for an estimated $0.24 per thousand dollars of assessed value, totaling $59,000 for the operation of the Lind Swimming Pool.

This year the Lind Pool had to train a new group of lifeguards to replace those who were not returning. In addition to this cost, they also had to replace their vacuum and finished paying the resurfacing costs of the pool.

There is always something that needs to be repaired or replaced entirely because of the age of the Lind facility, said Laurinda Ritz, head of the Adams County Park and Recreation No. 3 Board.

For next year the board is looking at repairing or replacing the pump and the heater in the pool as well as introducing an evening session of swim lessons.

Adams County Park and Recreation No. 4 has filed for a $90,000 levy for the Ritzville Water Park. The levy would require an estimated $0.24 per thousand dollars of assessed value.

The levy is the same as last year’s said Angelina Boettcher, who is the chair for the board.

The water park employs around 18 young people each year and the levy is what pays their wages as well as paying for necessary repairs and maintenance to keep the pool open for business.

Those who have visited the pool this season have noticed the alligator water feature missing from the shallow pool. This is due to the hard plastic shell separating from the foam core and becoming a hazard for those in the pool.

The board held a fundraiser to replace or repair the alligator two years ago but they did not anticipate how exspensive the water features are to replace or repair.

According to Boettcher, it would cost $5,000 just to repair the alligator. However, the company would not guarantee the repairs. Because of this the board has been researching different options to find the most cost effective solution.

Boettcher said that a water feature to replace the alligator would be installed in time for next season and the money from the fundraiser will be used.

She said that the board has been working hard to be responsible with tax money and build up a reserve so that when repairs need to be made it does not require any increase to future levies.

More information on the levies can be found at http://www.co.adams.wa.us/ under the Elections tab.