COEUR d'ALENE — North Idaho College has taken the first step toward a new gymnasium and expansion of the Meyer Health and Sciences Building.

NIC's board of trustees on Friday unanimously gave staff the go-ahead to seek legislative approval to use the Idaho State Building Authority to finance up to $25 million over 25 to 30 years for the possible building projects.

"We hope to move this forward this session," said Chris Martin, NIC's vice president for finance and business affairs.

Martin said NIC is not seeking bonds or bonding authority with the proposal.

He said that if the Legislature approves a concurrent resolution allowing NIC to work with the ISBA, the two entities would develop a lease agreement in which the college would pay off the ISBA.

"When the debt is paid, (the projects) would revert back to the college," Martin said.

The draft resolution states NIC will use the ISBA to manage the bonds, and college funds will pay for the bonds through the lease agreement.

Martin said the NIC board's decision on Friday does not automatically mean the projects will be built.

"The board could still decline on the projects," he said. "This would simply give us a funding option."

Last fall the board authorized $34,000 for an architectural firm to begin designing the possible future athletic facility.

Martin said that if the projects are approved, they would not increase taxes. He said NIC currently has about $10 million saved for building projects.

Martin said a new gym is needed because Christianson Gymnasium, constructed in 1949, can’t accommodate a collegiate regulation court and lacks compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

ADA issues with the current facility recently came to light after NIC's head wrestling coach, Pat Whitcomb, was fired in the middle of his 22nd season.

The college cited academic integrity violations as the nature of the investigation on Whitcomb, but the former coach believes his ongoing concerns over a lack of practice room access for a double-amputee wrestler was one of the reasons he was dismissed.

Martin said that a larger facility would also provide the opportunity to host more tournaments and other large events.

Preliminary plans call for a 123,000-square-foot complex built in three phases at Northwest Boulevard and Hubbard, across from the wastewater treatment plant.

Martin said Christianson Gymnasium would still be used if a new complex is built.

The science building expansion for additional labs and classrooms would meet the growing demand for health professions, said Laura Rumpler, NIC's chief communications and government relations officer.

"We are excited and ready to move forward with our work with the state Legislature on this (funding) opportunity," Rumpler wrote in an email to The Hagadone News Network.

- Regarding another building-related project, NIC Trustee Joe Dunlap suggested that the board at its next meeting discuss funding the design for a future cultural center on the Coeur d'Alene campus at a location to be determined. Dunlap is a former president of the college.