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Ripley board approves downtown beer permit, hears update on economic deal and fire ISO progress
Summary
At its February meeting the Ripley Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved an off‑premises beer permit for a downtown retailer, heard an update on a pending economic development 'bio deal' now with the IDB, and were told Ripley Fire has a Class 4 ISO rating with plans to pursue Class 3.
The Ripley Board of Mayor and Aldermen on an otherwise routine February meeting approved a downtown off‑premises beer permit, received updates on a pending economic development project and the fire department’s ISO rating, and postponed the scheduled introduction of the UT Martin Ripley director.
The board voted by voice to approve an off‑premises beer permit for an applicant named in the transcript as "Gita Babalua, Patel, d/b/a Kings Beer and Tobacco" at a Washington Street address the transcript records inconsistently as 290 and 291 Washington Street. Mister Chiblin moved to approve the permit; Mister Thompson seconded. With no further discussion the motion carried by voice vote.
The permit approval was among several routine actions. The board also adopted the January minutes and the January 2026 financial statement earlier in the meeting. "We have a full house," Mayor Fitchitt said at the start of the meeting as the recorder called the roll.
On economic development, the mayor updated the board on a local "bio deal," saying the transaction has not yet closed and that paperwork is now with the Industrial Development Board (IDB). The mayor described the arrangement as a three‑way deal that is in an early, building‑stage phase and said the project's representative (referred to in the transcript as the "Von" representative) has already spoken about potential involvement with the Tennessee Valley Authority. "So it's moving forward," the mayor said.
Public safety news came from a fire department representative who reported Ripley Fire had been through an ISO audit and has been classified as a Class 4 ISO department; formal notification is expected in about 90 days. The representative said the department plans to pursue a Class 3 rating next quarter.
The agenda listed an introduction of Dr. Sonia Scott as director of UT Martin Ripley, but the mayor said she could not attend because she could not get out of her driveway; the introduction will be rescheduled for the board’s next meeting. The mayor said the UT Martin Ripley Center may have "pretty pretty good news" to announce soon.
The meeting closed after department reports and brief praise for crews who cleared snow and restored utilities during recent storms. The board adjourned to its next monthly meeting.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of January minutes: moved by Miss Narita, seconded by Mister Chiblin; adopted by voice vote. - Approval of January 2026 financial statement: moved by Mister Thompson, seconded by Mister Long; adopted by voice vote. - Approval of off‑premises beer permit (Kings Beer and Tobacco): moved by Mister Chiblin, seconded by Mister Thompson; adopted by voice vote.
(Transcript notes: the permit applicant and the Washington Street address appear with inconsistent spelling and numbering in the transcript; the board’s mayor said paperwork for the local economic development deal is with the Industrial Development Board.)
