JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown Finance & Legal Committee has approved spending of CARES Act funds for different projects.

Last year, the city of Jamestown received approximately $2 million in CARES Act funds. The city reports that city revenues were adversely affected by the pandemic, but not as significant as other areas with the city seeing sales tax revenues exceed projections.

After consultation with city staff, it was proposed some of the funding on 10 restrooms in the city parks that do not meet ADA requirements for handicap accessibility in addition to some safety concerns. Some funds would also go towards the ladder truck.

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich says this would address two necessary projects for the city and Parks & Recreation Department that would otherwise have to be paid with tax dollars.

“There is additional issues of vandalism which has been a significant problem in some of the restrooms in the parks over the past several summers,” Mayor Heinrich’s proposal stated. “The city has been involved with the Parks & Rec Department and Police Department on how to curb this ongoing problem.”

He pointed out that the bathroom project will exceed $200,000 and added that Parks & Rec would be responsible for finding other grants and funding.

Heinrich added that so far, $374,000 has been raised for the Jamestown Fire Department Ladder Truck. With another $300,000 from the CARES Act funds, the truck will have nearly 2/3 of its total cost covered. The final amount is to be decided by the current legislative session.

The committee approved to use up to $200,000 for the Parks & Recreation Department bathroom project and $300,000 for the fire truck.

The motion was unanimously approved.