Ripley board approves DRA lift‑station grant, TDOT agreement, land deal and staff bonuses

Ripley — The Ripley Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Nov. 3 approved a set of infrastructure and personnel measures, including a Delta Regional Authority (DRA) contract worth $855,600 to replace two municipal lift stations, a Tennessee Department of Transportation agreement for intersection improvements on U.S. 51 with a planned city contribution, a land agreement with Ripley Power & Light and a 22% Christmas bonus for city employees.

The DRA contract for $855,600 will fund replacement of two sewer lift stations, the mayor said as the board considered the resolution. “These two pump stations — we don't have the money reserved to repair,” a board member said while urging acceptance of the DRA funding; the board voted to approve the contract on a roll call motion moved by Mister Chipman and seconded by Mister Frazier.

Miss Butler, a city staff member, briefed the board on TDOT contract 250278, which covers intersection improvements on US 51 at multiple locations. The board discussed how the city's $300,000 share would be paid and staff recommended adding language to the motion committing to provide the city portion closer to the time of construction rather than submitting funds now. "When we submitted this application, we also submitted a letter saying how we would pay that $300,000," Miss Butler said, adding that staff intended to cover the city share from future allocations of state-shared taxes over several years. The motion to approve the TDOT contract with the additional payment-language passed on roll call with Aldermen Austin, Chipman, Healy, Thompson and the mayor recorded as voting yes and Alderman Frazier recorded as voting no.

The board also approved preparing an exclusive perpetual-use agreement for a 4.45-acre parcel on Highland Extended for expansion by Ripley Power & Light. Under the motion the utility will submit $12,500 per acre; council members asked staff to draft the final agreement for a later ordinance or consent item.

On city facilities, the board approved LPRF Change Order No. 3 — a $3,712 increase for ADA compliance work at the pool bathrooms, covering modifications to handicapped showers, closing an unplanned window and replacing rotten partition wood. The measure passed after brief questions from aldermen.

The board approved a 22% Christmas bonus for city employees after a roll call that recorded affirmative votes from multiple aldermen.

Other items: The board withdrew consideration of a proposal to enclose the Ripley Park playground with a fence and gate (Alderman Long's request) and will consider the project again during budgeting or at a future meeting. The board also discussed scheduling a workshop or continued public hearing for a pending item and asked staff to propose dates for an early‑January workshop.

Votes at a glance: - TDOT contract (250278) — approved; roll call recorded: Austin, Chipman, Healy, Thompson and mayor — yes; Frazier — no. - DRA contract ($855,600) — approved by roll call; no local match required per presentation. - LPRF Change Order No. 3 ($3,712) — approved by roll call. - 4.45‑acre perpetual‑use agreement for Ripley Power & Light ($12,500/acre) — authorized; staff to draft agreement. - Employee 22% Christmas bonus — approved by roll call.

The board adjourned after thanking staff and department heads. Next steps include drafting the perpetual-use agreement for the Ripley Power & Light parcel and scheduling a workshop on the pending public‑hearing matter.