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Residents question downtown parking and a commercial utility rate at May 7 council meeting
Summary
During open comment, residents asked why the city purchased land on Ross Street for parking and raised concerns about a detached garage being billed at commercial utility rates; staff offered to follow up after the meeting.
During the open comment portion of the May 7 Cookeville City Council meeting, members of the public pressed council and staff on downtown parking policy and a utility billing dispute.
One resident asked about the city’s recently purchased property on Ross Street, saying downtown businesses should contribute toward parking costs and asking whether the city had offered tax or utility incentives to recent employers. Mills, speaking for city administrative staff, and Ward, from community development, said the Highlands Business Park project is a separate matter; Ward noted the Hollingsworth proposal is not pursuing PILOT incentives and would go on the tax rolls if built. Mills said the city is not building private parking for specific businesses and characterized the city’s parking efforts as supporting public access to downtown amenities.
Separately, a resident identified as living at 2176 Brownmore Road said a detached garage at that address appears to have been billed at commercial utility rates and asked why. City staff invited the resident to remain after the meeting so utility staff could review the account and follow up.
The council allowed the comments and offered staff follow-up rather than entering debate during the public comment period.
