Up until now, plans for the proposed new city pool in Mt. Carmel called for the aquatic center to be built where the current parking lot if located. But at Monday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge said that plan’s no longer feasible…

Judge presented the council with the final rendering of the proposed aquatic center that had a reduced price of $7,232,000. Originally, estimates placed the price tag at $8 million, but Judge said some amenities were done away with to bring the cost down. Now, Judge said city officials will continue exploring ways to pay for the project which include naming rights for the facility and grants.

The council did hear the first reading of an ordinance that would funnel the city’s share of the video gambling tax into a fund dedicated to the pool. Judge said the city averages $9,000 to $12,000 a month from the gambling tax. Presently, that money goes into the city’s general fund with the exception of $1,500 that is used for scholarships at Mt. Carmel High School.

No action was taken at Monday’s meeting on placing a pool referendum on the November ballot that Judge had brought up at the previous meeting.