[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6075975,"mediaKeyId","2978173-78e4d9d2e381b552b679007cd08c62e5","parentId",2978173,"title","Ripley board approves series of routine contracts, capital notes and park and public-safety items; votes at a glance","audioSeconds",1515,"startMs",125000,"endMs",1640000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2978173-78e4d9d2e381b552b679007cd08c62e5&start=125&end=1640","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2978173-78e4d9d2e381b552b679007cd08c62e5/thumbnail_125000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6075975/Ripley/Lauderdale-County/Tennessee/Ripley-board-approves-series-of-routine-contracts-capital-notes-and-park-and-public-safety-items-votes-at-a-glance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6075975-6f0661e5123433ed66c43b222c678bfa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770955919&Signature=FAfGnWc1r2L6G7cxlxt8iqQH3zWdeCjh4Grzgbi4M1d7w4jXPZfook6ZtJeXdn3mAKXU732enGNgSAuoBscdrojVQbIu3YLM97U3Df0b12V17IWFlabSyj4YCVJlPI-9wh9HE8RVb6dh3Xr5rwMoF7sIAEeYWd9er4i~QXBW6Kweqnx6BedOGDaYbZBwUiIwbmFXOBLZj5hDfnDuLpx6RaoiIdd47vNOB4-p9-MV8udsTsL6pRTbYGce7ZpfPeZb3P63wWma4Iu9BCLBev~BzxNzGko2vjk6vD07AsZ4AGM2A1DgYL-nE6yfHQekHomVAbc6xXjyAnhS9mXoqOtlKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Ripley, TN","date","2025-04-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Ripley Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted on a series of routine and capital items during its April 7 regular meeting, approving minutes and financial statements, several contracts and service agreements, a $1.8 million capital note authorization, and a park restroom contract tied to a Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF) grant.

Key outcomes recorded at the meeting:

Admission of minutes and financial statements — The board adopted the minutes of the March 3 regular meeting and approved the March financial statements on voice votes after motions and seconds were recorded.

Confiscated firearms trade for backup weapons (Item 11) — The board approved trading court-forfeited firearms awarded to the Ripley Police Department to a federal firearms licensee in exchange for replacement backup weapons. Alderman Thompson made the motion; Miss McKinley seconded. The chair called for a roll call; the motion passed.

Authorized user agreement via State Central Procurement (Item 12) — The board approved an authorized user agreement under the State of Tennessee Department of General Services Central Procurement Office for a contract with Cello Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless to provide telecommunications services for the police department. Motion carried on roll call.

Audit acceptance and auditor contracts (Items 13 and 14) — The board accepted the fiscal year 2023–24 audit and approved an engagement with ATA, CPAs and Advisors to audit city accounts for the fiscal year 2024–25 at a fee of $33,450. Motion to accept the audit was made by Alderman Chipman and seconded by Alderman Frazier; the ATA contract was moved by Miss Austin and seconded by Mister Long. Both items passed on recorded votes.

General obligation capital outlay notes resolution (Item 15) — The board adopted a resolution authorizing issuance of interest-bearing general obligation capital outlay notes for 2025 not to exceed $1,800,000 to fund street resurfacing, drainage, sidewalks, public-works and police transportation equipment and park renovations. The measure passed unanimously by roll call.

Resolution supporting Ford Motor Company Blue Oval City project (Item 16) — The board approved a resolution expressing support for Ford Motor Company's Blue Oval City project and its stated economic impact in Tennessee.

Recorder authority and budget line adjustments (Item 17) — The board authorized the city recorder to amend fiscal-year 2024–25 budget lines and fund-to-fund transfers as needed; the action was approved by roll call.

Ripley City Park LPRF restroom contract (Item 18) — The board accepted a bid from S. H. Masonry of Jackson for Ripley City Park restroom improvements tied to the LPRF grant in the amount of $138,000 and authorized the contract as recommended by TLE and Associates. The board noted the project is part of a larger LPRF effort that will later include a splash pad and additional restrooms.

ECD broadband grant contract for child care (Item 19) — The board approved a $1.81 million ECD grant contract to build a child care facility in space at the UT Martin Ripley Center; the YMCA will operate the center and the grant includes broadband upgrades. (See separate article for full coverage of Item 19.)

Administrative and informational items — The board recorded the filing of delinquent 2023 property taxes (Item 20) as required by state law; scheduled budget hearings for April 15 and April 24 at 9 a.m.; and received a TDOT letter announcing a $13.6 million commitment for SR 19/US 51 intersection improvements and other local corridor work.

All motions that required a roll call vote were recorded as passing in the meeting transcript; where a mover and seconder were recorded in the transcript, those names are listed above. The meeting record does not show any failed or tabled motions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Ripley Board of Mayor and Aldermen meetings 2025-04-11","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 7 meeting the Ripley Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved minutes and financials, traded confiscated firearms to obtain replacement weapons, authorized several contracts and audit engagements, approved a capital note resolution of up to $1.8 million, accepted a park restroom bid, and endorsed a state grant for a child care center.","taxTitle","Ripley, Lauderdale County, Tennessee","taxId",71239,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6075980,"Ripley accepts $1.81 million ECD grant to create child care center at UT Martin Ripley Center",136,1414000,1550000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2978173-78e4d9d2e381b552b679007cd08c62e5&start=1414&end=1550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2978173-78e4d9d2e381b552b679007cd08c62e5/thumbnail_1414000.jpg","/articles/6075980/Ripley/Lauderdale-County/Tennessee/Ripley-accepts-181-million-ECD-grant-to-create-child-care-center-at-UT-Martin-Ripley-Center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6075980-5a1d50d32b6422a1e6345283c962824e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770955919&Signature=Rr7Ez6OZGGeCRl8I-dzgAJiZs5peKrD9ZHhpJKA3aGi7BUNyIwYYXm13EjYKqQLGEMI9kTwJLBfuyFLrc41nQxR6sRSToGKrW1lOmNRxx36uIoTy12WRoIegUttZPH3Q~t7PpyslKA9oQTYw3q9Vp7hf50bGQJ3vMttGCuNuerDzh0DQffYuwvE-y5~Qg~Q9Du1fraXNwKddUOkLEgFtvkBAiowNUW8dDjNzXUZH8vBR09Wrf9as3Hs9cu5Hu6I5Pifav48Oe~IACjxKBZW3RqVjll7yG3g7aMNLcV0OXQdASqSTj5qP92CTHAUusAFZzDOkUOM~9CiZNxI9dWV04Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ripley Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a grant contract with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to convert vacant floor space at the UT Martin Ripley Center into a child care facility, funding the project with $1,810,000 in ECD support.

The grant agreement, described by the mayor during the April 7 meeting, names the City of Ripley, the University of Tennessee at Martin Ripley Center and the YMCA as partners. The mayor said the YMCA will staff, equip and operate the proposed child care center and that the project includes broadband upgrades at the Ripley Center that will also benefit UT Martin.

Board members moved and seconded the contract approval and then took a roll-call vote that the meeting transcript records as “yes” from each participating alderman and the mayor; the motion passed. Alderman Frazier made the motion and Alderman Chipman seconded.

Board discussion, as recorded, emphasized local demand for more high-quality child care. The mayor framed the project as addressing a “major” community need and said the grant amount aligns with the city’s cost estimates shown to the board.

The grant contract lists the Tennessee ECD as the funding source and assigns operation responsibilities to the YMCA; the transcript does not specify an estimated opening date or a detailed construction schedule. The board did not attach additional conditions in the public record of the meeting.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: the contract was approved and will move forward per the terms of the ECD agreement and the city’s procurement process. Further project-level details, including a construction timeline, final budget breakdown and YMCA staffing plans, were not specified during the meeting.","The City of Ripley approved a contract with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to use a $1.81 million grant to build a child care facility in vacant space at the UT Martin Ripley Center, with YMCA to operate the center and broadband upgrades included.","actionData","errors"]

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Ripley board approves series of routine contracts, capital notes and park and public-safety items; votes at a glance

Ripley accepts $1.81 million ECD grant to create child care center at UT Martin Ripley Center