RIPLEY – Ripley aldermen took care of the following items of business during their meeting Tuesday night, April 7. The board:

--Took under advisement a request by Bernice Clemmer of Ripley, who asked that what she termed a public road be opened or equally divided. Later in the meeting, Potts Camp attorney Jennifer Shackelford addressed the board about the matter. She said it has not been a road since 1958 but only a driveway a shared by she and her husband and Mrs. Clemmer. She produced a map of the city of Ripley of 1958 showing no extension of Water Street.

--Took under advisement a request by J. D. Meadows that the city stop adding sodium fluoride to its water. Meadows, who is a candidate for mayor, told aldermen the substance is a toxin, and that Ripley is the only municipality in the county that fluoridates its water. Mayor Mike Harrison said cities have fluoridated water with minute amounts of the chemical for years and the process is approved by the State Health Department.

--Heard from Main Street Director Allison Windham, who outlined several upcoming events the group is involved in. They include the Cleanest Campus competition for schools April 1-22 in both school districts; a Saturday, April 11 Easter Egg Hunt at Kidz World; the third annual Spring Fling and Crawfish Boil set Saturday, April 18 on the Ripley Square, which includes a talent contest, art exhibit, live music, artisan vendors and a Strut Your Mutt contest; the Great American Clean-up set from 7 a.m. – noon Saturday, May 16; the Brad and Brenda Koon 10K Scholarship run set May 23; the Relay for life set Friday, June 12; The Star-Spangled Celebration Saturday, July 4; the Ripley Main Street Golf Tournament Saturday, July 11, The ChiliFest and Trick or Treat Downtown Thursday, Oct. 29; the Faulkner Fest Nov. 6-7; the Holiday Open House Sunday, Nov. 8, and the Ripley Christmas Parade Tuesday, Dec. 1. .

--Heard from Bonnie Garner, who told the board that The Great American Clean-up is the signature event for Keep America Beautiful. She asked the city for $1,000 to help pay for starting a Keep Ripley/Keep Tippah County Beautiful affiliate chapter. She said the county has already agreed to contribute $2,300 to help start the affiliate. Mayor Mike Harrison said that because it’s the final quarter before an election, the city couldn’t spend any unbudgeted funds, and none had been earmarked for the affiliate.

After hearing that, Garner joked: "We know you can’t spend any money, but we’re gonna ask you for more." She asked the city for help sponsoring the Great American Clean-up. The city agreed to spend $250 in advertising funds – which are budgeted – for T-shirts with the city’s name on them to help sponsor the event.

The mayor and board offered a verbal commitment to the program, however. "This board is for litter elimination, and we’ll do it (help pay for starting an affiliate) if we’re here," the mayor said.

--Took under advisement a request from social worker Kadie Hall that the city join Crime Stoppers. If the city were to join the program, it would be funded by up to a $2 assessment on city misdemeanor fines.

--Took under advisement a request from Wayne Windham that the city contribute financially to the Old Church Opry House. "We need help. This past year we’ve been barely getting by. The church donates the building, but it’s embarrassing when a group comes to Ripley and we don’t have any money to give them for gasoline."

Windham, who owns First Monday, also urged the city to consider employing a tourism director to help bring increased tourism here. "Ripley needs one, but I don’t have time to do it," he said. He joked: I’d be on welfare if it wasn’t for tourism."

Responded Mayor Harrison: "He’s got the biggest tourism attraction in Tippah County." --Approved Assistant City Clerk Lisa Mauney attending a certification program in Oxford April 16-17.

--Approved hiring Matt Bateman as a police officer. Bateman doesn’t have his basic police certification. Following a series of tests, Bateman was recommended by Police Chief Mo Graddy from among 11 applicants.

--Approved hiring part-time temporary summer employees. Working as field crew will be Dameco Black, Chase Chapman, Jody Chapman, Coty Childs, Ben Hellums, Rainer Jumper, Tyler Markham, Nathan Miller, Caleb Reno, Coley Reno, Anthony Storey, Jordi Vernor and Matthew Winters. Working concessions will be Latteshia Bell, Amber Graves, Candace Green, Anna Fitts, Breonna Mauney, Lametra Rogan, Amberly Rogers, Lindsey White, and Paris Wilbanks.

--Hired Jimmy Joshlin, who is a former city employee, as a part-time temporary Street Department employee to do bushhogging for the city.

--Accepted the lowest of four quotes – from Jermaine Jackson of Jackson Lawn Service of Ripley for $3,160 – to mow city property during the growing season.

--Approved Rickey Martin to attend the Mississippi Water and Pollution Control Short Course in Starkville May 18-22.

--Discussed the city’s 1982 fire rescue truck and voted to advertise it for sale.

--Accepted the lowest of four quotes – from Darrell Robertson who bid $5 per shirt and $4.95 per cap – to provide those items for summer league baseball at the City Park.

--Approved a flood plain ordinance identical to one now in force in Tippah County. Mayor Harrison said the city had been instructed to do so by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

--Approved building a school bus turnaround on Windham Lane.

--Approved a policy procedure of reviewing water rates yearly. The mayor and aldermen stressed that they are not raising water rates.

--Canceled a pit bull ordinance hearing after learning that Bradley Boyd, the owner of the dog, had removed it from city limits.

--Held a hearing on cleaning up Ruth Buchanan’s property at 808 Union Street, and voted to remove a house from the property. She will be required to pay the costs of removal.

--Approved Mickie Service Company of Alba, Texas to make emergency repairs to replace two faulty valves in the city lagoon at a cost of $14,995.

--Went into executive session, then emerged and voted 5-0 to suspend Gas Department Assistant Superintendent Herman Fryar for five working days without pay beginning Wednesday, April 8, for a violation of the city’s personnel policy.