News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville City Council expected to approve the low bid for a new Dogwood Park Christmas Tree.
The city’s current tree was originally bought for the annual lighting celebration around eight years ago. Leisure Services Director Rick Woods said each year the department will cover the fountain with an artificial tower tree for the celebration, but the city’s current tree needs to be replaced.
“The topper of the tree, the last section of the tree is about a six-foot section that is really broken, we’ve had to wire it together,” Woods said. “We’ve also had some issues with the wiring harness and the lighting that we have there that needs replaced or repaired.”
Woods said the city is unable to purchase just parts to repair the tree, so a full replacement is needed. He said the city will keep the old tree to use for parts as needed.
The city received three bids for the tree, ranging from $40,600 to $61,600. Woods said the new tree will essentially be exactly the same as the old tree with the opportunity to have additional programming songs and things if the city would like.
“It will be a nice attractive tree, same size, same design, but new and shiny,” Woods said. “Perfect for Christmas right? New and shiny.”
Woods said the tree lighting event was originally the idea of then-Vice Mayor Larry Epps. He said Epps was the one who made first contact with a company in Texas to do the programming. Woods said the efforts also came from then-Mayor Ricky Shelton to get the big lighting celebration underway.
