Kingman council members voted Oct. 21 to terminate the Chamber of Commerce’s long‑standing management arrangement for the city’s billboards and to bring billboard management under city control.

Economic development staff presented the history: the city and Chamber entered agreements in 1982 to operate three billboards; one was removed in 2024 for the I‑11/I‑40 interchange and the other two remain along I‑40. Staff said the Chamber later contracted with Lamar Company LLC to manage billboard sales under differing lease terms, creating a situation in which the Chamber did not have matching contract terms with the city. Chamber revenue historically was roughly $18,000 annually when all three faces were in service; after the removal of the highest‑revenue board that figure dropped to about $5,500 per year, the Chamber’s representative said.

Economic development Director Josh (last name not specified in transcript) said the city currently lacks direct authority to require maintenance or change skins on the billboards because the Chamber, and in turn Lamar, are under contract. Staff told council electrical and maintenance costs would be modest if the city took over — about $30 per side per month in electricity for existing faces — and that upgrading lighting to LED for the four existing sides would cost roughly $7,000–$9,000 total. Staff estimated gross ad revenue per billboard side in the local market at roughly $1,000–$2,500 per month, and noted bringing management in‑house would allow the city to retain commission revenue and use it to cover messaging costs.

Chamber representative Becky said the Chamber’s total revenue from all three billboards had previously been about $18,000 per year and is now about $5,500 with one board removed. A Lamar representative on the line had limited cost figures and said she would follow up with specific equipment‑replacement estimates.

After an executive session to consult counsel on contract and legal matters, councilmember Savage moved and council approved a motion to bring billboard management back to the city and terminate the Chamber’s management agreement; staff will return with transition details, budget impacts and options to outsource operational tasks such as sales and maintenance if needed.