Water/Sewer Moving Toward Advanced Metering
After deciding to move forward with advanced metering infrastructure for the Cookeville Energy Department, the city will implement the new automated meters for the Water Department as well. Cookeville Water and Sewer Quality Control Director Barry Turner said 40 meters have been installed to test the system and it is going well. Cookeville City Council […]
Water & Sewer Rate Hikes Included In Proposed Budget
Cookeville’s Water Quality Control Department proposing water and sewer rate increases in its 2025 budget. Water Quality Control Director Barry Turner said the increase is due to a spike in chemical costs. He said the price for chemicals was more than $1 million in 2023, a nearly 50 percent increase from 2022. “I know it’s […]
Cookeville Proposed Budget: No Property Tax Change
Cookeville’s proposed budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year includes no change to property taxes and raises for all city employees. City Council got its first look at the budget Wednesday during the first of two days of work sessions. The proposed budget keeps property tax at 92 cents. Cookeville City Manager James Mills said he […]
Willow/Jackson Right Of Way Acquisition To Resume
Cookeville City Council will vote Thursday night to resume right-of-way acquisition for the South Willow Avenue/West Jackson Street intersection improvement project. Economic and Community Development Director Jon Ward said the amendment would give the city right-of-way for dual northbound turn lanes and a dedicated westbound turn lane. He said the original contract amount was some […]
10th Street Widening Phase 2 Underway
Utility work underway, the first stage in widening the next stretch of Cookeville’s 10th Street. In this phase, workers will convert the road to two lanes in each direction with a center-turn lane, from Old Kentucky Road to Fisk Road. Public Works Director Mary Beth Elrod said crews are relocating underground utilities, such as sanitary […]
School Zoning Change Receives Final Approval
Cookeville City Council passed on final reading Thursday a change to the zoning code allowing private and parochial schools in the Commercial-Industrial Mixed Use District. The council asked city staff and the planning commission to consider changes to the rules in that district, potentially eliminating rules that might not apply to schools. Those changes will […]
Council To Replace Owens On CRMC Board Thursday
Cookeville City Council will vote Thursday night to appoint a new member of the Cookeville Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees. Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton said Justin Cumby has agreed to serve. City Manager James Mills said Carl Owens has resigned from the board with two years remaining on his term. Mills said after serving […]
Bike Lane Addition On Cedar Nearing Completion
A project to resurface and add striping for bike lanes on Cookeville’s Cedar Avenue is scheduled to finish up in the next few weeks. City Manager James Mills said the project includes milling and resurfacing from Broad Street to Seventh Street. He said he is excited to connect Cookeville Regional Medical Center and Tennessee Tech […]
Elrod Hired As Cookeville Public Works Director
Mary Beth Elrod has been hired as Cookeville’s New Public Works Director after Blake Mayor stepped down after two years as director. Elrod has been with Cookeville Public Works since May 2022. In her role as an engineer, she was responsible for designing and reviewing expansion and improvement projects. She graduated from Tennessee Tech with […]
Cookeville Developing Plan To Attack Sewer Needs
The City of Cookeville is moving closer to a comprehensive sewer extension plan to answer growing demand and needs. City Manager James Mills said the top priority is extending sewer services to areas with failing septic systems. He said areas without adequate sewer capacity that are primed for development will be next on the list. […]
