IOWA FALLS - The Iowa Valley Community College Board of Directors moved forward with plans to build a new student apartment complex at Ellsworth Community College at its meeting Wednesday.
The estimated $2.16 million project is expected to begin in October and be completed by next August, but was met with strong resistance by board member Yvonne Mallory.
Mallory suggested they look into maybe cutting some costs and having a dorm style facility instead of a nicer apartment complex.
"Everybody doesn't need a Cadillac when they are 19 years old," Mallory said.
Mallory's idea was met with resistance by her fellow board members, including Larry Johnson who thought the community needed a nice complex and not a "second class facility."
"I'll never support (building a dorm) and this community will not support that," Johnson said.
Iowa Valley Chancellor Chris Duree said the proposed complex is in line with what other community colleges are building currently and is not overly lavish.
The board agreed to set a date of Sept. 20 for a public hearing on the plans of the apartment and is expected to approve bids at its next regular meeting, which is at 4 p.m. Oct. 13 in Marshalltown.
Ellsworth is in need of student housing as its current dorms are cramped and enrollment continues to rise. The college in Iowa Falls saw full-time student enrollment increase from 714 in 2009 to 780 students currently.
The apartment would house 39 students and help alleviate crowding in the dorms.
Some of the increase in ECC's enrollment is due to the growth of the equine program with the new equine center on campus.
