News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The City of Cookeville will consider applying for grant funding to rehabilitate sewer lines in the West End area.
Planning Director John Ward said the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) would provide up to $630,000 for the project.
“These (grants) are very competitive. All the communities across the state apply for these,” Ward said. “I don’t know if we’ll be successful in getting the grant award, but we are going to pursue it and see if we can get these funds. We’ve looked at several projects, but we feel like this is probably our highest opportunity to get funded.”
The project would eliminate overflows by installing approximately 4,100 feet of new pipe, replacing 44 laterals, rehabilitating 23 manholes, and placing the existing pump station. Ward said the improvements would eliminate the risk of environmental impacts of sewage overflows, which negatively impact human health and overall water quality.
Cookeville hasn’t applied for a CDBG in a number of years. City manager James Mills said that’s because Cookeville did not meet eligibility requirements for the grant.
‘We’ve never met the income requirements, but we are now eligible because of a change in the state designations,” Mills said. “You should always apply if you’re eligible.”
If awarded, Cookeville would provide a 15-percent match or approximately $111,176. Cookeville City Council meets Thursday to consider applying for the grant.
