PRYOR, Okla. -- Who says a child can't solve small town problems? That's exactly what Makaelyn Smith did when she wrote to Pryor city council asking them to keep the pool open for the season.
Makaelyn Smith is only 9-years-old.
"I want to be the president of the United States," she said.
With each stroke of her pen, she's trying her best to make a big difference.
"My grandma told me that they were closing down the pool and one day she told me I could write a note to city council," she said. "When we got home, I decided that I would write a note to city council."
Due to a revenue shortfall in sales tax, Pryor is having a hard time keeping some places open. So the mayor proposed closing the pool, which serves all of Mayes County. But Smith wouldn't stand for it.
City council was impressed with the young Cherokee's penmanship.
"It was nice to see that Makaelyn was engaged in the community and she feels like she has a voice here and that's what we want to see happen," Councilwoman Jill Sherman White said.
They quickly sent a response.
Councilwoman Jill Sherman White came up with a plan. She said the city will turn management over to the Pryor Creek Recreation Center and raise the price to get in.
"It was $2, now it will be $3 to enter each day and then Sundays instead of $1.50 it will be $2," she said.
The Cherokee Nation moved quickly to back one of their own. They have committed to donate $10,000 to keep the pool open.
"I thought it was amazing," Cherokee Nation Tribal Counselor Janees Taylor said. "I thought we need to have more people that will stand up for their community like this child does."
Makaelyn Smith plans to save the world, one letter at a time.
"I just want to be the president to solve world peace and hunger," she said.
There's a city council meeting next Tuesday. That's when the final vote will take place to turn the pool over the Recreation Center.
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