We don’t know when, or if, the Mt. Carmel City Pool will open this year. But regardless, the city is taking the first steps in some major improvements. Mayor Joe Judge reported at last week’s City Council meeting that he had met with Mike Bridges of Charleston Engineering in Olney about applying for a federal open space and development grant. If successful, Judge said the pool would see extensive improvements…

The new design will also include a new fountain in the middle of the pool. Judge said the original zero entry design of the pool will remain. According to Judge, Bridges has been successful in acquiring similar grants and overseeing pool improvement projects in Olney and Robinson. Currently the open space and development are a 50-50 match, but Judge said those rules may be relaxed in the future to aid municipalities. Judge said most of the plans for the pool were originally proposed in 1992 when current City Clerk Rudy Witsman was serving as mayor. The grant application deadline is June 30th.