Ripley board asserts authority, votes to request records after dispute with former Power & Light members

The Ripley Power Board voted to request documents from Power and Light management and to review recent actions taken by the former Power & Light board after a public commenter and multiple board members raised questions about who currently holds authority over the utility.

The vote came after a resident, identified in the record as Miss Love, asked why the former Power and Light board was still meeting and questioned whether board appointments and payments to outside attorneys had been handled transparently. "I thought back in after this board was first elected, that they put the Republican Guard and Light Board back together," Miss Love said during public comment, adding she had applied to join the power board several times.

Mayor (unnamed) and the superintendent told the meeting the city currently considers itself the power board pending resolution of ongoing legal and administrative questions. "It is the opinion of that lawyer that, in fact, the city of Ripley is the power board now," the superintendent said, describing earlier litigation in both federal and state court and the differing legal views that followed.

Why it matters: Board members said the dispute created potential legal and financial exposure for the city because the former Power & Light board appeared to have entered commitments without clear authority. The board singled out a reported $1.6 million transformer purchase and referenced funds received from Silicon Ranch as items that require review.

During discussion, Alderman Chittman moved that Power and Light management be asked to provide documentation showing what actions the former board believed it had authority to take and the supporting records for those actions. Alderman Fraser seconded the motion. After brief discussion affirming the need to avoid exposing the city to liability, the motion passed on a voice vote.

Board members stressed the review is not an immediate judgment on prior decisions but a request for records and explanations so the current board can determine legitimacy and any need for ratification. "We need to put them on notice that we need to see that and make sure it's legitimate," the mayor said. The superintendent and other members said the city would not ignore prior actions but must confirm authority and documentation before ratifying large expenditures.

The board also approved routine minutes from previous meetings by voice vote earlier in the session. Public comment raised additional questions about attorney fees for counsel who advised in an earlier executive session; meeting participants said the city will produce public records it possesses but cannot compel invoices in the city’s possession if they have not yet been received from the lawyers.

Members named in the meeting noted personnel changes on the former board (resignations and expired terms) and reiterated that appointment of a new, functioning Power & Light board remains the city authority's responsibility. The meeting concluded with the board asking Mr. Almond (Superintendent) and Power & Light management to provide the requested records so the city board can move forward with appointments and with decisions about ratifying or disavowing prior actions.

What’s next: The board will await the management-provided documentation; members said they will review the records for potential liabilities and to determine whether formal ratification of past actions is appropriate. The board set no deadline in the public record for when the materials must be produced.