Jamestown Lawmakers Defeat Measure to Buy Out Mayor's Leased Vehicle

The Jamestown City Council defeated a proposal to buy out the current leased vehicle used by Mayor Kim Ecklund for city business. Last week, the $18,971 purchase from Ed Shults Chevrolet was defeated in a tie vote, 4-4, with one member absent from the meeting. Republican Councilman Andrew Faulkner says he voted against the lease agreement in 2023 when Eddie Sunquist was still mayor, and he opposed the buyout now. However, Ecklund feels it's still the best way to go because the money to buy the vehicle is already there...

Kim Ecklund: allocation already in the budget

Ecklund says the cost shift will be because her personal vehicle will have to be used for city business at a reimbursement rate of 76 cents a mile, and, she adds that's likely to go to 80 cents next year. In addition, she says there's a liability issue with anyone that would travel with her, and additional mileage costs...

Kim Ecklund: would cost us less

City Council candidate Jason Sample says there's now a law that limits the liability on using personal vehicles.