Cookeville City Council approves sidewalk, utility and equipment contracts; authorizes environmental assessment for 39 Depot Street

Cookeville City Council on Oct. 16 approved a series of bids, grant participations and service agreements and authorized a limited Phase II environmental site assessment for the 39 Depot Street property.

The council approved contracts and project agreements that included a $1.96 million bid for the Interstate Drive sidewalk project, a $152,800 award for City Hall switchgear replacement, a $37,206.25 award for replacement HVAC units at Cane Creek Gymnasium, and a $246,276.62 contract for construction engineering inspection (CEI) services for the sidewalk project. Council members also authorized a limited Phase II environmental site assessment at 39 Depot Street for $42,700 and granted several grant-participation resolutions for small matching reimbursements.

The decisions matter because they advance capital projects, public-safety work and property development steps now that the city has acquired the Depot Street tract. Several of the approved items will require follow-up implementation steps such as CEI oversight, utility rework or state approvals.

Most actions were routine votes with limited public debate. City staff described timelines and budget details for each item and in several cases noted related next steps, such as potential further environmental work depending on Phase II findings.

“One of the things noted in the proposal is that, based on the past use of the 5.07 acre tract, the site is considered an REC, which is a recognized environmental condition, which means there’s likely presence of a hazardous substance or substances,” said Mister Mills, a staff member, describing the Phase II ESA scope and need for TDEC approval. Mills said the limited Phase II work is expected to take four to six weeks and the fee is $42,700.

On procurement and construction matters, Mr. Ward, a staff member, recommended approval of two zoning-code ordinances on second and final reading and presented the low bids and project scopes for several capital items. For the Interstate Drive sidewalk project, Ward said the project is a Tennessee Department of Transportation local programs project front-funded with Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funds and requires a 20% local match. The low bid, from Rogers Group, was $1,963,925.50; the council approved awarding the contract.

Staff also reported technical and scheduling details on equipment projects. Mr. McDonald, a staff member, recommended awarding the Cane Creek Gymnasium HVAC bid to Tennessee Home Solutions for $37,206.25 and described the units on site as original to the facility and near end of life. For City Hall, McDonald said the existing switchgear dated to the building’s 1969 construction and recommended awarding the replacement contract to Van de Voorhe at $152,800 after the originally low bidder rescinded their bid for an error.

Other approved items included: - A consent-agenda package that authorized purchase of bulk deicing salt using a statewide contract (Contract ID 66848), declared a 2017 Mack front-load garbage truck surplus and approved a final balance change order for the 2021 Cookeville Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) sewer system improvements. - Resolution R25-10-14 to participate in the Public Entity Partners safety partners matching grant program, a 50% match program with maximum reimbursement of $3,000 for personal protective equipment and traffic cones. - Resolution R25-10-16 to participate in Public Entity Partners property conservation matching grant program (50% match through April 1, 2026), with staff seeking reimbursement for security doors and cameras; staff reported total purchases of $11,953.80 and a $5,000 reimbursement cap. - Authorization to apply for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Drug-Free Workplace Program. Staff said the program carries no enrollment cost and can yield a 5% premium credit on workers’ compensation; staff reported that credit would have equaled approximately $16,000 in the prior fiscal year. - An easement to Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (UCEMC) on the water treatment plant property and an estimate approval from UCEMC to rework the service entrance so a new generator can serve both the intake and water plant meter, at a UCEMC estimate of $31,801.75. - Awarding CEI services for the Interstate Drive sidewalk project to HMB Professional Engineers for $246,276.62, based on the project’s 360-day construction schedule; staff noted supplements would be required if the project exceeds 360 days.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance O25-09-16 (zoning code, garbage waste containers) — outcome: approved on second and final reading; tally reported: 3 yes. - Ordinance O25-09-17 (driveway surfacing requirements for single-family residential districts) — outcome: approved on second and final reading; tally reported: 3 yes. - Consent agenda (bulk deicing salt contract, declaration of surplus 2017 Mack front-load garbage truck, final balance change order for 2021 CDBG sewer improvements) — outcome: approved as presented; tally reported: 3 yes. - Agreement with UES Professional Solutions LLC for a limited Phase II Environmental Site Assessment at 39 Depot Street — outcome: authorized; fee: $42,700; tally reported: 3 yes. - Resolution R25-10-14 (Public Entity Partners safety partners matching grant participation) — outcome: approved; maximum reimbursement: $3,000; tally reported: 3 yes. - Resolution R25-10-16 (Public Entity Partners property conservation matching grant participation) — outcome: approved; maximum reimbursement: $5,000; purchases cited: security doors and cameras, total $11,953.80; tally reported: 3 yes. - Authorization to apply for Tennessee Department of Labor Drug-Free Workplace Program — outcome: approved; staff said program entitles a 5% premium credit (approx. $16,000 last fiscal year); tally reported: 3 yes. - Cane Creek Gymnasium HVAC replacement award to Tennessee Home Solutions — outcome: awarded; cost: $37,206.25; tally reported: 3 yes. - City Hall switchgear replacement award to Van de Voorhe — outcome: awarded; cost: $152,800; tally reported: 3 yes. - Easement to Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (UCEMC) for water treatment plant generator project — outcome: granted; tally reported: 3 yes. - UCEMC estimate to rework service entrance at water treatment plant (to consolidate meters so generator can supply both locations) — outcome: approved; cost estimate: $31,801.75; tally reported: 3 yes. - Award of Interstate Drive sidewalk project to Rogers Group (TDOT/STBG project; 20% local match) — outcome: awarded; low bid: $1,963,925.50; tally reported: 3 yes. - CEI services agreement with HMB Professional Engineers for Interstate Drive sidewalk project — outcome: authorized; cost: $246,276.62 (360-day schedule); tally reported: 3 yes.

What happened next City staff will proceed with contract execution and implementation steps described for each project: CEI oversight for the sidewalk work, utility coordination for the water plant generator work, and follow-up environmental work as required by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation if the Phase II ESA identifies contamination requiring remediation.

The council did not record individual roll-call vote names in the transcript; votes were announced as tallies (typically “3 yes”). The meeting concluded after a short public-comment period.