Cookeville holds public hearing on Donson Branch Road annexation plan; sewer costs dominate service estimate

The Cookeville City Council held a public hearing Sept. 4 on a proposed annexation-by-referendum for the Donson Branch Road area, a roughly 275-acre tract north of the city limits that city staff say includes about 374 dwelling units and an estimated 842 residents. Mr. Ward, planning-division staff, presented the plan of services and the financial estimates. The plan matters because the city would extend many municipal services to the annexation area but staff said the estimated total first-year cost to provide those services is about $7,657,147, of which roughly $6,613,475 is the estimated cost to provide sewer service. Mr. Ward said anticipated annual property tax revenue is about $179,299 and state-shared taxes about $150,280, for an estimated total revenue of $329,579 per year. Staff described which services would…