Cookeville Holds Public Hearing Monday For CDBG Application

The city of Cookeville will hold a public hearing Monday to welcome local input on possible grant funding.

This is part of the process of applying for a Community Development Block Grant. Planning Director Jon Ward said the plan for now is to use the grant to eliminate sewage overflow at West End.

“The project was to replace approximately 4,000 feet of pipe,” Ward said. “Replace laterals, rehab man holes and replacing an older existing pump station.”

Ward said some parts of the sewage system in that area is between 50 and 60 years old. Ward said the city wanted to accomplish this project last year through the same grant, but Cookeville was not awarded the funds.

“We were very close to being funded in last year’s round,” Ward said. “We were only a couple of points out of the funding, and we qualify to submit again in 2021, so we are considering resubmitting that project.”

Ward said the city qualifying for CDBG application is a rare case. Ward said economic metrics usually prevent the city from applying, but Cookeville has now been eligible two years in a row.

“I think CDBG funds are very valuable to communities,” Ward said. “A lot of communities relay on that funding to do projects. It is a good program, and we hope we are succesfful in this grant cycle.”

Ward said the public hearing is a standard part of the application process. The session begins at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at 45 East Broad Street.