Ripley aldermen approve engineering contract for YMCA expansion, advance alcohol-distance ordinance and pursue Tina Turner house inquiry

Ripley — At its regular January 2025 monthly meeting, the Ripley Board of Aldermen approved an engineering services agreement with TLE and Associates for design work on a planned YMCA build-out at the UT Martin Ripley Center, voted to advance an amendment to the city—s alcoholic-beverage distance rules on first reading and authorized staff to continue inquiry into acquiring a house tied to Tina Turner.

The engineering contract was described by the board as tied to a grant for the Ripley Center expansion that will add childcare and related space. The board—s discussion said the project is funded by grant money shared with the UT Martin Ripley Center and the YMCA; the board noted administrative fees are included and said the grant funding would not come from general tax revenue. Alderman Chipman moved to approve the agreement and Alderman Thompson seconded; the board approved the contract by unanimous roll call.

Why it matters: board members said the expansion aims to add childcare capacity for center users, employees and community residents, and…