RIPLEY – Ripley’s mayor and Board of Aldermen transacted the following business during their recent April meeting. The board:

--Accepted a bid from Eaton Bros. Inc., of Prentiss County to lease city land on Miss. 2 for $58 per acre from May 1 to Dec. 1. Under the arrangement the city would receive about $2,900 for leasing the approximately 50 acres. The bid was the higher of two received.

The land was to be used for a new city park, but those plans never materialized.

Mayor Kerry W. Hill said he believes soybeans will be raised on the land. “Leasing the land for farming purposes is better than leaving it in weeds and bushes. It will be more presentable, better for city taxpayers, and they’ll be growing products that will be beneficial.”

--Agreed to advertise for temporary, part-time summer workers. Six would work in the park, another six in the Street Department, three in the Water Department and one in the gas Department.

--Agreed to advertise for a police officer. There’s a vacancy because Joe Reese resigned effective April 1.

--Raised a city veterinary fee to $25 from $10. Presently, when the city picks up a stray animal, a veterinarian charges the city $25 daily to house it. If the animal is reclaimed by its owner, the city has been charging the animal’s owner $10 per day to help cover the housing costs. The city pays the $15 per day difference to the veterinarian. Now, the owner will pay the full $25 per day fee to reclaim the animal.

--Approved the March 2 regular session board minutes and the March 25 special session minutes.

--No public hearings were held about cleaning up two pieces of property, both on Smith Drive, since both have been cleaned up to the board’s satisfaction. One property is owned by James Thomas and the other is owned by Dustin Ward.

--Canceled plans to set a public hearing to clean up a piece of property at 410 Pinewood owned by Jeannie Jeter. Aldermen said the property has been cleaned up to their satisfaction.

--Approved a contract whereby Pepsi products would be served at the City Park. The approval is conditional on several changes sought in a proposed contract between the city and the soft drink company.

--Approved Police Investigator Scott Watson to attend a class on domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking at Pearl River Resort.

--Approved city officials attending the Mississippi Municipal League conference in Biloxi.

--Took under advisement a petition to extend city natural gas service to several homes on CR 161.

--Authorized placing “No Loaded Trucks” signs on Pocahontas Road and North Main Street.

--Heard a financial report from Charles Davis of Lindsey, Davis and Associates.