CRMC Budget Passes; Concerns About ER & Medicaid Cuts
Cookeville Regional’s new fiscal year budget approved by Cookeville City Council on first reading, but not before some concern about ER wait times. A resident asked CEO Buffy Key what was being done in this budget to reduce those times. Key said the problem is universal in health care today. “We have been working on […]
City Council Approves Budget First Reading, Tax Increase
The Cookeville City Council approved on first reading Thursday its proposed budget for the new fiscal year including a 7-cent property tax increase. Finance Director Brenda Imel said the increase will provide an additional $862,000 in revenue. Imel said that property tax along with growing sales tax revenue have left Cookeville in a good place. […]
Water Treatment Generator Installation Gets $1.8M Bid
Cookeville City Council will consider awarding an estimated $1.8 million bid on Thursday for a generator at the expanded water treatment plant. Cookeville Water and Sewer Director Barry Turner said the city will use part of a $4 million grant to pay for the installation. Turner said the city has already bid out several components […]
Minimal Survey Results Against Dodson Branch Road Annexation
First results from residents in the Dodson Branch Road area show they are against annexation by the city of Cookeville. Cookeville Community Development Director Jon Ward shared the information with Cookeville City Council members Monday during a work session. Ward admitted only 14 surveys returned from 357 address points. Many of the nine against believed […]
CRMC Borrowing $13 Million For New Inpatient Hospital
Cookeville Regional Medical Center will borrow funds up to $13 million to construct a new inpatient rehabilitation hospital. CRMC received authorization from the Cookeville City Council to borrow the funds on Thursday. Mayor Laurin Wheaton said the expansion is needed. “We are keeping people in the community, which is so important as a health care […]
Cookeville Approves Purchase Of Old Wilson Plant
Cookeville City Council approved the purchase of the old Wilson Plant property Thursday. The city will spend $3.2 million on the purchase from HCA Health Services. Council Member Eric Walker said purchasing the property supports local business owners. “This gives us the opportunity to take what has been a site that nobody has been able […]
Multi-Modal Sidewalk Project Phase Two Comes In Over Budget
Another bid, another over-budget price for Cookeville’s Spring Street sidewalk project, with hase two coming in $20,000 over projections. The city council rejected the first round of bids for phase two of the project. One of the two bids was over budget, and the other bid did not acknowledge an addendum. Community Development Director Jon […]
Wheaton: Opportunity Driving Old Wilson Property Idea
Cookeville Mayor Lauren Wheaton said opportunity is driving the city to consider purchasing the vacant 5-acre property at the corner of Cedar Avenue and Depot Street. The old Wilson Plant burned down in 2019. After a failed hotel/convention center project, HCA Health of Nashville purchased the property. Wheaton said that when HCA Health Services first […]
Cookeville Considering To Purchase Downtown Property
A downtown Cookeville property once planned to become a hotel and convention center, then a Nashville-based medical facility, now has the city interested in its purchase. The estimated 5-acre property is located across the street from the Depot, off Cedar Avenue. City Manager James Mills said the city is considering spending $3.2 million to purchase […]
Cookeville Proposes 7 Cent Property Tax Increase
The City of Cookeville is proposing a 7-cent increase in property tax for the upcoming fiscal year. The tax increase proposed during Wednesday afternoon’s budget workshop. City Manager James Mills said the increased rate will provide an additional $850,000 in revenue. Mills said the property tax hikes will help keep city employees at competitive salaries, […]
