Board approves $98,500 state brownfield grant to assess former Power & Light site

The Ripley Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to accept a $98,500 brownfield assessment grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to evaluate contamination at a Ripley Power & Light property.

Mayor Fitchy told the board the city had received the $98,500 grant to perform a brownfield examination of the Ripley Power & Light building at the address given in the packet. After questions from board members about the scope and location, Alderman Frazier moved to accept the grant and Alderman Chipman seconded; the board approved the contract on a roll-call vote.

The grant will fund an environmental assessment to determine whether the property requires remediation or is suitable for redevelopment or reuse. Mayor Fitchy said the city would place the approved contract in the minutes and proceed with the assessment process.

Next steps include executing the grant contract with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and scheduling the assessment work. The board did not record any dissent in the portion of the transcript provided.