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 officials said the project operates on a compressed schedule tied to the grant.

City staff also reported on a separate public-works project. Scott, a city staff member, briefed the board on phase one of a waterline replacement project that is running new pipe up Lafayette Street and tying services at Jackson and Chickasaw streets. He said crews are encountering unknown, aging utilities in the ground and that brief service interruptions can occur when crews hit an uncharted line: "If your water gets turned off for just a brief amount of time, that's because we're probably doing a repair," Scott said. He said the current phase runs to Webb Street and that a later phase is waiting on loan documents from SRA.

On local alcohol rules, the city attorney told the board the draft ordinance would reduce the minimum separation for establishments that sell intoxicating liquor or beer from 300 feet to 200 feet from certain public uses, and it would remove residences from the list of "impacted structures" that trigger a distance restriction. The attorney said the change is intended to align Ripley with surrounding municipalities and to encourage business openings and expansions in areas already zoned for commercial uses (B2, B3, B5). The measure passed on first reading; a public hearing and second reading were described as the next steps.

During public comment, a resident identified as Miss Love asked about an "anticipated mitigation" item on the agenda and cautioned against spending tax dollars on litigation. She also raised concerns about an ongoing homicide investigation involving a person named Demarquez Bonds and said students at a local school were upset. The board's Chief (unnamed in the transcript) replied that the matter remains an ongoing investigation. "It is an ongoing investigation," the Chief said, according to the record.

The board also considered a proposal to pursue the purchase of the property at 235 Scott Drive, which the board was told was associated with Tina Turner—s family and used during her childhood. The property is currently owned by Barry Jones, Angela Mitchell and Michael Jones. Board members said private donations were expected to cover the purchase if it proceeds; the record also notes the city would likely face costs to stabilize or reinforce the structure if acquired. Alderman Thompson moved to continue inquiries and Alderman Austin seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.

Other routine business: the board approved the Dec. 2 minutes (moved by Miss Kinney, seconded by Mr. Frasier), accepted the December 2024 financial statement (motion and second on the floor; adopted), and accepted department reports (moved by "Mister Chibbon," seconded by Alderman Thompson; adopted). The board ended the meeting by scheduling the public hearing and second reading for the alcohol ordinance at a future meeting.

What happens next: the YMCA engineering contract will proceed under the grant timetable, the alcohol-ordinance amendment returns for a public hearing and second reading, staff will continue the inquiry into 235 Scott Drive and the waterline project will continue with further phases once loan documents are in place.