The Pella City Council moved to remove a resolution from the agenda at their meeting Tuesday that delays a proposal to construct a new indoor recreation facility in the community.

Mayor Don DeWaard opened the session expressing his desire to see the project move ahead, citing $15.5 million in private support, but acknowledged there is gridlock on the new council in 2024 to see the project move ahead. A resolution to open the bidding process for the facility was ultimately tabled as councilmembers Lynn Branderhort, Harold Van Stryland, and John Butler — two of whom were newly elected this past November, expressed their opposition to opening the bidding process. DeWaard believes their opposition to the effort — at least in the short term, was only further strengthened following budget workshops held last week.

Audio from the meeting:

Ultimately, the mayor is hopeful to find more consensus on a proposal in the near future, but ultimately conceded that construction was unlikely to begin this year. DeWaard was asked about the private pledges — in particular, the initial $12 million of which was intended to at least be partially spent on renovations to the Pella Community Center, but he did not clarify how much would still go toward that effort and no additional details about the future of the facilities were given at the meeting — and that those decisions will be made by the Pella City Council.

Also at Tuesday’s session, the council adopted zoning changes that would ultimately allow for Kwik Trip to build a Kwik Star location near Washington Street.