Cookeville Approves Sewer Extension East Of Dry Valley Road

Cookeville City Council approved a cost-share agreement to extend sewer from Dry Valley Road up to a property on Buck Mountain Road.

The city would split the cost 50/50 with landowner Tom Cooper who owns a property on Buck Mountain Road. City Manager James Mills said this is advantageous to the city because at some point it would have needed to run sewer up the road anyway.

“The ratepayers don’t pay the entire cost for this,” Mills said. “Now when and if that property is ever developed, the entire cost will be on that property owner or developer to pay for that and we just take over the system. So this saves the ratepayers, water and sewer customers, a significant amount of money towards extending sewer.”

Mills said Cooper had already paid his $22,000 in full. The extension to this portion of land was a source of concern for some citizens in regard to its potential for redevelopment. Mills said the sewer extension agreement contains no stipulations or agreements about rezoning the property for development.

City Council recently approved the sewer extension to areas west of Dry Valley Road that included Shag Rag Road and Contraband Road. Mills said this additional is expected to take place at the same time as the first project.

“What was approved by the council previously included a bid from the contractor,” Mills said. “That contractor has not started the work yet, they still have to get all the materials and everything so this should not cause any delay.”

Water Quality Control Director Barry Turner said in addition to the city’s 50 percent, it will also pay some $8,300 for the purchase of taps. The city council approved the agreement unanimously.