News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam County officials are looking for the public’s opinion regarding potential street projects.
Cookeville, Algood, Baxter, and Monterey residents are encouraged to participate in the county’s online survey and vote which projects are most needed.
Putnam County Executive Randy Porter said public opinion is crucial to determining which projects are sent to state for approval.
“We need the citizen’s input because we as leaders look at all these projects and what we think may be the most needed may not be what the citizens think,” Porter said.
Porter said over 600 people have participated in the online survey since it opened Sunday.
“We would love to get several thousand to take it,” Porter said. “We encourage everyone to go and take the survey. Take eight or ten minutes, it’s very simple.”
Porter said it’s unclear how long it will take for projects to be chosen and submitted to the Department of Transportation for funding.
“It will probably take us a couple of months for us to go through all the results and get the data together,” Porter said. “You never know with TDOT how long it will take to get it on the radar.”
Porter said compiling a list of projects through the survey helps the communities stay on the same page.
“Whether it be Cookeville city, Monterey, Baxter, Algood, or Putnam County, we’re all on the same page,” Porter said. “That’s the whole idea of the committee and coming up with a plan; We’re all on the same page, we all agree these are the most needed projects for the county.”
Porter said some projects on South Willow and South Jefferson have received approval for funding, but added it may be a couple years before the South Willow projects begin.
Project ideas range from new traffic lights in Baxter to brand new roads in parts of Cookeville.
Residents can participate in the survey through June 30. Those who participate can recommend projects not listed and choose the ones they feel are most needed.
Links to the survey can be found by visiting putnamcountytn.gov or cookeville-tn.gov.
