Jon Ward Appointed First Cookeville Assistant City Manager
Jon Ward will be Cookeville’s first Assistant City Manager, announced during Thursday’s City Council meeting. City Manager James Mills said the decision to establish the position was not a sudden move but a plan he had considered for at least two years. Ward has served the city for 10 years and will continue his current […]
Summer Weather Forces Repairs Near Tennessee Tech
Cookeville Public Works closed Jere Whitson Drive Thursday for emergency repairs after the pavement began sinking following a combination of extreme summer heat and heavy rainfall. Public Works Director Mary Beth Elrod said the city is currently performing a permanent fix on a section of the roadway sinking over an underground utility line. Elrod said […]
Algood Council Requests Revised Public Works Paving Plan
The Algood City Council requested a revised street paving plan after discovering that initial bids for several city roads far exceeded the current budget. Algood Vice Mayor Luke Hill said the Public Works Department needs to prioritize which streets are in most dire need of repaving. Hill said the department should include public input into […]
Cookeville Improves Aging Sidewalks, Downtown Walkability
Cookeville is upgrading deteriorated sidewalks on South Walnut Ave to meet ADA standards as part of a broader plan to improve walkability downtown. Director of Public Works Mary Beth Elrod said the city is currently focusing on sections of South Walnut and Church Street to ensure all utility and concrete issues are resolved before repaving […]
Van Buren Commissioners Approve $21M Annual Budget
Van Buren County Commissioners approved a $21.4 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year during a special called meeting Monday. The general purpose school fund accounts for the largest portion of the budget at $10,152,700. General fund expenses set at $4,860,741. The commission also approved a resolution to fix the county tax levy at 1.3883 […]
Cookeville Sanitation Infrastructure Sustains Rising Demand
Cookeville’s newest residential garbage collection route already approaching capacity as the city manages growth. Public Works Director Mary Beth Elrod said the recently completed fourth full-time residential route is seventy-five percent full. Elrod said it could be up to four years before another new route is needed. “The current projection we have right now of […]
Cookeville Closes South Maple Avenue For Erosion Repair
Cookeville repairing erosion along the shoulders of South Maple Ave to ensure the safety of the thousands of commuters who travel the roadway daily. Public Works Director Mary Beth Elrod said the week-long closure involves routine maintenance to address large drop-offs and unsafe areas caused by stormwater and vehicles leaving the pavement. Elrod said the […]
Cookeville Prioritizes Expansion Of Traffic Signal Backups
Cookeville will prioritize the expansion of traffic signal battery backups to maintain full intersection functionality during power outages. Public Works Director Mary Beth Elrod said the city has identified 36 future locations for these backups along major corridors and thoroughfares. Elrod said the plan involves budgeting for approximately one-third of these intersections each year over […]
Algood Council Approves $6M Dollar Budget, Raises
The Algood City Council approved a nearly $6 million budget for the new fiscal year Tuesday. City Administrator Keith Morrison said the budget includes estimated revenues of $4.8 million against $5.9 million in expenditures. Morrison said the city expects to maintain a fund balance of approximately $5.9 million while funding several capital projects and employee […]
Henley Extension Project Ahead Of Schedule, Paving Underway
Cookeville’s Henley Drive expansion project will be completed well ahead of its original August deadline as contractors begin paving this week. Director of Public Works Mary Beth Elrod said the current closure of Bunker Hill Road is expected to last a few more days. Elrod said the move cuts off access for residents living south […]
