Carbon County residents who purchased season passes to swim at Mauch Chunk Lake will not be penalized in the event the county must shut the beaches if there aren’t enough lifeguards, officials said Thursday.

Commissioner William O’Gurek said that in the event that the park cannot charge because of insufficient lifeguards, the county has decided that people with season passes would then be given a credit for the day.

“But we don’t think that will happen (the beach being closed),” O’Gurek said. Over the past two weeks, the county has hired a few more certified lifeguards, bringing the total positions filled to seven, with one pending.

“It looks to me like we’re getting close to having enough lifeguards,” he said.

Previously, the board said they needed at least 10 certified guards on staff to provide sufficient coverage at the lake.

The county has also authorized overtime for the lifeguards already on the staff.

“I give those boys and girls a lot of credit,” O’Gurek said. “They are willing to work more hours. It’s not an easy job being a lifeguard.”

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that one problem the county is finding is the cost the college students must pay to become certified to become a lifeguard.

“These students are putting out around $425 (for the certification class and CPR training),” he said.

Nothstein added that the county plans to look at ways to help offset some of those costs for people interested in becoming certified to work as a lifeguard at the lake in the future.

Lifeguard positions at Mauch Chunk Lake Park pay $10 an hour and applications are still being accepted, the commissioners said.

To apply for the positions, contact Carbon County’s human resources department at 570-325-8523 or the commissioners’ office at 570-325-3611.