Cookeville Dedicates Funding To Water Quality Department Projects

Cookeville City Council will allocate some $12 million in American Rescue Plan and TDEC funding for four Water Department projects.

Water Department Director Ronnie Kelly said the money is instrumental in keeping up with city growth and providing the best service to its customers.

“This sort of serves all of our customers,” Kelly said. “This way, it’s different parts and pieces that we would’ve had to fund through our rate structure and if we can use this money to do that then it will keep us from having to adjust rates at some point.”

Kelly said that the work will cover the DeBerry Heights Pump Station and TTU Pump Station Upgrades, the Tennessee Tech Equalization Basin, and the Water Treatment Plant Expansion.

City Manager James Mills said that would leave some $2 million in ARP funding that could be used on potential Leslie Town Center roof repairs or increase the funding of road pavements.