Cookeville City Manager Proposes Major Raises For Police, Fire
Cookeville City Manager James Mills proposed some $1.3 million in increased salaries for police officers and firefighters during the next budget year. Mills said the proposed budget includes a roughly $10,000 raise for all police officers in the lower grades, a $5,000 raise for firefighters, and a $9,800 raise for paramedics. “We’re talking about major […]
Cookeville Moves From Self-Insured Health Insurance
Cookeville City Council voted Thursday night to move from a self-insured health insurance plan to being insured by an outside vendor. The plan expected to save the city over $1 million on its next fiscal year spending. Finance Director Brenda Imel said rising medical costs as well as the increasing complexity of the system made […]
Mills Receives Nearly Perfect Evaluation; Five Percent Raise.
Cookeville City Manager James Mills received a 4.9 out of 5 on his annual evaluation by city council members. City Attorney Dan Rader compiled the numbers based on council member evaluations in six different categories. “This is one of the highest, if not the highest, evaluations I’ve ever received for a public official,” Rader said. […]
Cookeville Public Works Preps For Winter Use Of Road De-Icing Salt
Cookeville’s Public Works Department is already prepping for winter storms by purchasing road de-icing salt. Director Greg Brown said that de-icing salt plays a key role in driving on icy roads. However, he said there can be a point where it becomes less effective. “The colder it is the less efficient the salt works,” Brown […]
Cookeville Water Department Seeks City Service To Water Intake Pumping Facility
Cookeville City Council will consider a negotiation of the purchase of facilities from Upper Cumberland Electric to serve the city’s Water Intake Pumping Facility. Water Quality Control Department Director Ronnie Kelly said that they would purchase a primary meter and a depreciated transformer feeding the intake from UCEMC. “In August there was a tree that […]
Cedar Avenue Project Still Underway, Almost Ready For Paving
Work on Cookeville’s Cedar Avenue road project continues. Public Works Director Greg Brown said that widening and sidewalks from 4th Street to 7th Street are done. Crews continue working towards completion of the west side of Cedar from 4th Street to 2nd Street. “You know we do this in addition to our regular jobs,” Brown […]
Cookeville To Consider Awarding Bids For East 10th Street Widening
Cookeville City Council will consider awarding bids for the widening of East 10th Street Thursday night. City Manager James Mills said that the price tag for phase one came in at $1.2 million, an increase of some $600,000. “The budget was assumed that we would do the work on this project,” Mills said. “That (Public […]
Cookeville Will Open Bids For N. Cedar Mini Storage Unit Materials
The city of Cookeville is set to open bids on salvageable materials from the former mini storage units on North Cedar Avenue. City Manager James Mills said that the sale of materials would be the first step in demolishing the storage units to allow for more parking in the downtown area. He said that the […]
Cookeville To Create Public Online System Listing All Capital Projects
Cookeville is set to add a new online system to the city’s website detailing upcoming and ongoing capital projects. City Manager James Mills said the idea came after seeing social media comments from citizens concerned there was not enough work being done to improve the city. “And I was surprised considered how much coverage we’ve […]
Cookeville Council Approves Next Step To Sewer For Tennessee Avenue Area
Cookeville City Council voted Thursday to move forward with extending sewer service to the Tennessee Avenue area. Water and Sewer Director Ronnie Kelly said the plan will aid in the development of the new fairgrounds property and the interchange. “For it to develop you need sewer,” Kelly said. “That’s the main thing they’re going to […]
