Cookeville Wants To Create IT Division

Cookeville City Council will vote Thursday on creating a Division of Information Technology.

City Manager James Mills said IT duties currently fall under the codes department.

“This is part of a long term strategy to try to improve our cybersecurity and to also the security of our networks and enhance our telecommunications,” Mills said.

During Tuesday’s work session, Mills told council members he would be presenting other changes to the council for approval including new employees. Mills said he wanted to create a plan of succession to protect the city.

The new IT department, if approved, would answer directly to the City Manager.

Cookeville and other Putnam County government agencies were the victim of a computer crime last summer. It rendered local data inaccessible for a period of time. Very few details have been shared about the incident. The FBI was involved in the investigation.