COEUR d'ALENE - Supporters of a proposed North Idaho College recreation center funded by student fees and staff memberships must wait another month to see if the project will develop.

The NIC board of trustees on Wednesday night decided not to take action on the $7.7 million, 30,000-square-foot proposal that would be built where the tennis courts are currently located on campus. The total debt service with a 30-year maturity on the revenue bonds is estimated at $14.5 million.

Board members said they withheld from voting in order to allow another month for community and student input.

The next NIC board meeting, when a decision is expected to be made on the rec center, is April 22 in Sandpoint.

Richard Fortman, Associated Students of North Idaho College (ASNIC) president and other project proponents urged the board to take action on Wednesday, as the group shepherding the bond along will next meet on April 9.

Fortman said since the project will be funded with student fees and staff memberships, he wondered why and how much community input will be needed beyond what proponents have already sought.

"Since this is student-driven, we need to frame our thoughts off that," Fortman told the board.

But board member Ron Nilson said taxpayers should be offered a window to voice their thoughts since they own the ground on which NIC is located.

"We do understand that this will be no burden to the taxpayers and there's a lot of positives," Nilson said. "But we need to allow time to get public input with a $14 million decision. Thirty days is appropriate for due diligence."

Board member Todd Banducci added that a larger, long-term view needs to be digested when large projects are being considered especially when they can have a ripple effect in times of increasing tuition. The decision will have an impact on all students, not just those who utilize the main Coeur d'Alene campus.

Banducci said many students also receive financial help from their parents during college.

"So this does extend to the community," he said. "There is a public voice there (that needs to be allowed to comment)."

Mic Armon, a former NIC trustee and part of the three-person group that will work on the bond for the center, said his group only meets twice a year but it can try to meet soon after the next board meeting to get the bond process off the ground.

The board was unanimous in agreeing that the project, which has been sought for 15 years, has a lot of momentum. Board member Ken Howard added that he doesn't expect much vocal opposition, if any, but the process should be respected.

"Don't be discouraged by this discussion," Howard told project proponents. "This is more about the process."

Under the proposal, full-time students would pay $37 per semester in 2016. The fee would increase to $87 in consecutive years. The fee would be pro-rated for part-time students. Students who utilize NIC's planned technical center in Rathdrum would also be required to pay the fee.

Project proponents say the rec center is needed because NIC's indoor recreation program shares Christianson Gym with the athletics department, utilizes the climbing wall at the Kroc Center and has a small weight area in Winton Hall.

The design of the center proposal includes a gymnasium, climbing wall, open recreation space, a weight area, multi-activity court, locker rooms, offices, storage, laundry room and an indoor walk/run track on the second story.