Ely voters reject $7 million bond for new community center

ELY — Ely voters soundly rejected a $7 million bond referendum for a new Community Center — a facility that would have housed City Hall, the public library and recreational services.

The new facility, proposed to be built where City Hall currently sits at 1570 Rowley St., off State Street, was intended to be more noticeable for residents and visitors, accessible to trails and other amenities.

The bond issue failed with 61 percent of votes opposed, according to unofficial results.

In Iowa, bond issues — basically, loans that cities take out, typically for 10, 15 or 20 years — need approval by at least 60 percent of voters to pass. Voters must agree to repay the bond with interest through their property taxes.

Officials estimated property taxes would have increased, at most, $300 to $480 a year, depending on the assessed value of a resident’s property.

City Administrator Eldy Miller said he anticipated the vote would come in closer than it did, but residents showed they want more information.

He said the committee leading the charge on the project would assess a path forward and continue to engage residents. Miller said Ely is a growing community and unique in lacking a community center.

“As we grow, it’s going to become a higher and higher priority,” Miller said.

Before determining whether or not to proceed with the project or how, Miller said he wants to reconnect with the city council and with the project committee.

“It’s an opportunity for us to take a pause here for a moment, really evaluate this and make sure what we’re doing is what the majority of residents of Ely want,” Miller said.

The library would have been given more space — keeping its food pantry and including a room with the capacity for 500 people that the public can rent for special events. There was a proposed walking track, workout area, exercise classes, senior activity space and gym space that could be converted for pickleball, volleyball, basketball and more.

Residents would not have had to pay to use this facility and could have signed up for free memberships and access to the Community Center through 24/7 access cards for areas such as the walking track, gym and fitness area, according to the city website. It was planned to have monitoring systems for after-hour use.

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