News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Friday marks Melinda Keifer’s last day as the Economic and Community Development Coordinator for Cookeville.
City Council honored Keifer at its Thursday night meeting to thank her for her dedication to the city. Keifer thanked the council for trusting her with her efforts to better the community.
“To raise the per capita income of every citizen, to make sure that people were able to take care of an aging parent or were able to go see a movie or to take a small vacation,” Keifer said. “And it takes a huge team.”
Keifer will remain part-time as a consultant for the city as projects come up. The city council approved the agreement at its Thursday meeting.
Mayor Ricky Shelton said that he recalls first speaking with Keifer about coming to work for the city in 2010. He said that he believes that every single job that was brought to the community that year had to do with Keifer.
“Government doesn’t create jobs first of all, but we set an environment for people who want to invest in it,” Shelton said. “Every single job that was brought to this community in 2010, she’s the chamber, she’s the one that has her DNA all over every project that’s been in this community and that’s a fact.”
Council Member Mark Miller said that a lot of people probably don’t know that Keifer is the one to thank for bringing so many jobs to Cookeville.
Vice Mayor Laurin Wheaton and Council Member Eric Walker thanked Keifer, and said that they wish they were able to have more than just one term working alongside her.
