Town of Ripley Council members, at their meeting last month learned that the town has been awarded a $3.8 million grant by the state Department of Health for waste treatment plant and water distribution system upgrades.

Town Supervisor Laura Pless received a letter stating that “The NYS DOH has completed the evaluation for Base Drinking Water State Revolving Fund hardship funding for the project.”

It is noted in the award letter that all projects funded through the Base Drinking Water State Revolving Fund must meet certain programmatic requirements. “We are very appreciative of this and excited to get started,” Pless said. “The water plant will now be able to implement some much-needed repairs.”

Pless also shared a letter from the Town of Mina, which invites the Town of Ripley to consider mutual interest in opportunities for shared services, consolidations, mergers or dissolutions. It is noted by Town Supervisor Rebecca Brumagin that “the Town of Mina recently adopted a Resolution Supporting Chautauqua County Executive Wendel’s Proposal to Establish a Government Efficiency Fund.”

Subsequently, council members adopted the resolution, expressing their full support for County Executive PJ Wendel’s proposal to establish a Government Efficiency Fund to aid local governments in pursuing shared services and structural reform initiatives.

Pless also noted that the Onvo Project at the former site of the Lion’s Den on Shortman Road is on target to break ground in the spring of 2026. Ripley Town Board members previously passed a motion to anticipate the designation of Ripley Town as the lead agency for the Onvo Project on Shortman Road. Onvo is a network of travel plazas, convenience stores and restaurants, located throughout Pennsylvania and New York.

The town also received correspondence from Town Historian John Hamels, which gives an update on the many Town Historian projects. “Dr. Hamels really does a lot of work,” Pless said. “People don’t realize how much he does.”

In another matter, Pless said she had received queries from many residents, asking if hunting is permitted on town property. “Hunting is absolutely not permitted on town property,” she said. She noted that there have been some problems with this matter in the past and that the town has put up new “No trespassing” signs. She also noted that the Sheriff’s Department has been asked to keep a lookout for anyone attempting to hunt on town property.

Council members also approved a motion to change the position of Trista Brown, who does landscaping and grounds work for the town, from probationary to permanent with a salary increase of $1.25 per hour. Pless praised Brown’s performance. “This is a tribute to her great work and I am thrilled to put this motion forward.”