Cookeville Public Works prioritizing the regulation of development and the protection of local water resources as the city manages its annual stormwater requirements.
Public Works Director Mary Beth Elrod said the city must follow state mandates to regulate stormwater within the city limits since becoming a municipal stormwater utility in 2004. Elrod said the program requires the city to oversee construction sites, educate the public, and manage its own internal housekeeping to remain in compliance with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
“We’ve got to keep our water resources clean for the long term for our future, for recreation, for clean water drinking, for livestock,” Elrod said. “And so that’s part of this storm water program is keeping our water resources, our streams and our wetlands and our water supply, clean through these regulations.”
Elrod said the city completed 16 public outreach events during the last fiscal year, which included speaking to engineering and architectural classes at Tennessee Tech. The department also conducted sinkhole cleanups and held educational meetings with developers to ensure all commercial projects meet detention and treatment standards.
Elrod said the city faces challenges with older infrastructure because many shopping centers and subdivisions were built before the current stormwater regulations were established. Because most of these older systems are located on private property rather than city right of way, the department must work directly with landowners to address drainage issues.
“It is consistent that we have kind of the same regions of the city that are known for water and flooding issues, calling over and over,” Elrod said. “Most of the complaints we have are known or already pre-existing, flood-prone areas or low-lying areas.”
Elrod said the city integrates stormwater improvements into larger infrastructure projects, such as the recent work on Spring Street and ongoing phases of Tenth Street. The city also plans to address aging infrastructure along Jackson Street as part of its current capital projects budget.
“We really rely on the public, if you see polluted water, report it to us,” Elrod said. “We get reports of water looking muddy or red, and so then we go look at all the construction sites in an area and we have to regulate them and no construction site can lose any red or sediment or dirt.”
Elrod said residents can access fact sheets and program details on the Public Works department webpage.
