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Cookeville City Council unanimously approves appointments, engineering contracts and accepts bond report
Summary
At its Dec. 19 meeting, the Cookeville City Council voted 5-0 to reappoint two citizens to boards, appoint a replacement to a sewer appeals board, approve an industrial rezoning on second reading, authorize design and construction‑related contracts for water and wastewater projects, and accept a report on recently sold general obligation bonds.
Cookeville City Council met on Dec. 19, 2024, and unanimously approved a series of routine appointments, engineering contracts and a report on a recent general obligation bond sale.
The council reappointed Kaye Starkweather to the Planning Commission and Connie McCormick to the Board of Zoning Appeals, and filled an expiring Sewer Regulations Appeal Board seat by reappointing Scott Nicholson and appointing Justin Tayes to replace James Roberson. Vice Mayor Eldridge moved the planning commission reappointment; Councilman Walker seconded. All appointments were approved on voice votes reported as 5‑0.
On second and final reading the council approved Ordinance 0241125 to rezone city‑ and county‑owned property at 3429 Lee Seminary Road from RS‑20 (single‑family residential) to CI (commercial industrial mixed use). Mr. Ward told the council there had been no substantive public comment or changes since the first reading; Vice Mayor Eldridge moved approval and the ordinance passed 5‑0.
The council approved several contracts and a consent agenda that included authorizing the city manager to sign an engagement letter with attorney Bill Penny of Thompson Burton PLLC and to execute a SCADA upgrade contract for the wastewater treatment plant and pump stations. For water and wastewater infrastructure, the council approved a $48,000 design contract with Clinton Engineering to replace the Interstate Drive waterline; a $224,400 contract with CTI Engineers to design an upgrade to the Cane Creek pump station to roughly 1,200 gallons per minute (design details and final capacity to be determined in engineering); and Change Order No. 1 to the 2023 South Jefferson Avenue waterline replacement contract for $123,318 and an additional 100 contract days to move a line near the proposed fire station.
On the required debt report, Miss Emble presented the city's general obligation bond sale (Series 2024), dated Dec. 13, 2024, and summarized the stated purposes: road improvements (including 10th Street and West Stevens), fire station construction, facility renovations and park improvements. She reported a stated true interest cost and sale figures and said Moody's had upgraded the city's rating to AA1; the council voted to receive the report 5‑0. Several numeric values in the transcript were unclear as recorded and are noted in the clarifying details below.
Quotes from the meeting reflect the routine nature of the actions and staff presentations. Mr. Turner, presenting infrastructure items, said the Interstate Drive line "has given problems over the years" and that the proposed design would replace the cast‑iron line with a 10‑ or 12‑inch pipe placed outside the roadway. On the Cane Creek project he said the work would "nearly double the station capacity, bringing it up to around 1200 gallon a minute."
The meeting concluded with holiday remarks from Mayor Wheaton and an adjournment. The council noted there will be no meeting the first week of January.
