A new $11.5 million Lummi Island ferry has been put on hold again after a majority of Whatcom County Council members Tuesday night said they wanted more information before making a decision.

Meanwhile, a free $8.15 million from the state remains in limbo and will be lost just a day after the April 15 special meeting when the council will next take up the proposed 35- car ferry.

Chief among the concerns of the council were questions about how a new vessel would affect ticket prices, specific information on the integrity of the current ferry’s hull and other safety concerns.

“Are we all satisfied that there are no more questions to which we can get answers?” asked Councilman Seth Fleetwood. “I’d like a little bit more detail or answers from the administration. Is this a ferry with bells and whistles or not?”

The council voted 4-3 to table the proposed project for three weeks, with Council members Laurie Caskey-Schreiber, Ward Nelson and Sam Crawford voting no.

Council members are struggling to determine whether the 45-year-old, 20-car Whatcom Chief can remain afloat and safe to transport people to the island or whether capacity needs to be increased as well as improvements for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and other issues.

The county was awarded, but has yet to accept, the millions from the state, which actually would be paid out in installments of $407,500 during the next 20 years.

“The concern should be addressing how do we make sure that we are providing not only capacity but the best public safety to the people of Lummi Island,” said Councilman Ward Nelson.

Crawford said that the county shouldn’t pass up the free cash from the state, while Councilman Carl Weimer said the administration, although asked, still wasn’t providing adequate answers to council members’ questions.

“Whether we’ll get more answers or not I don’t know,” he said, “but I’m not totally comfortable with the answers that we’ve got.”