Carbon County officials will wait until February to see what recommendations an advisory committee makes regarding a possible policy change to the beach at Mauch Chunk Lake for the upcoming season.

On Thursday, the board of commissioners voted to table a motion revising the lake admission policy on weekends to prioritize county residents, including Coaldale residents attending Panther Valley School District; as well as season membership holders, campers, seniors and veterans and pavilion renters.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner asked for the motion to be tabled because he had several questions, including how would the county make up the difference in revenue lost by such a change. Mauch Chunk Lake Park currently brings in about $150,000 annually through visitors to the park and beach areas.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said that this change would result in approximate a $50,000 reduction in revenue based on previous figures, but added that of the 101 days the beach is open to the public, 29 of those days the county couldn’t charge due to not having enough lifeguards on duty.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein also questioned some issues before the board agreeing to wait on recommendations from the Carbon County Parks and Recreation Commission following its February meeting.

This, the commissioners said, would allow the commission to discuss the matter for a month before making a recommendation.

Further discussion or action will be put on the Feb. 16 commissioners’ agenda.