Tag Archives: Charles Womack

Cookeville City Council Member Charles Womack said he has spoken to attorneys about the hiring of Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton by Cookeville Regional. Womack said the meeting happened about a month ago. “I’ve been going to bring this for about a month,” Womack said. “We had a legal meeting a month ago, and I talked about it then. That is ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council Member Charles Womack wants answers about Cookeville Regional’s hiring of Mayor Ricky Shelton as its Chief Strategy Officer. “The motion asked for outside legal advice to assist the city council members in doing an investigation,” Womack said. Womack said he had questions about the legality and appearances of impropriety in Shelton’s hiring. He asked the council Thursday ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council will postpone the public hearing and first reading on the proposed Spring Street quarry redistricting until October 15. The land sits at 1940 East Spring Street, near the Interstate 40 interchange. City Manager James Mills said the council will not have a quorum for the Thursday ordinance reading with both Mayor Ricky Shelton and Council Member Charles ... Read More »

A public hearing for Cookeville’s proposed panhandling ordinance will take place this Thursday. Cookeville City Councilman Charles Womack said his concern is not with the panhandling ordinance as it exists. City Councilmember Charles Womack said a lack of public comment was the reason for voting no during the first reading of the ordinance. “I think it’s very important for citizens ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council approved a contract with UCHRA Thursday night to provide social work assistance to Cookeville Police. The pilot program will provide on-call service for police 24/7. The SAS program team will provide assistance with housing, mental health services, substance abuse, and other needs for people needing help. “We need a service with social workers available on a 24/7 ... Read More »

Cookeville residents will get the chance to sound off on a proposed panhandling ordinance as Cookeville City Council approved a revised measure Thursday night. The ordinance passed 3-2 with council members Mark Miller and Charles Womack voting against the ordinance. Council will host a public hearing at the next meeting September 17 as the ordinance comes up for a second ... Read More »

Councilman Charles Womack said he feels rushing to criminalize panhandling in Cookeville is premature. Cookeville City Council did not vote on a panhandling ordinance on Thursday night. Womack said he hopes City Manager James Mills will negotiate a way to use social services, instead of law enforcement. “I’m hoping that Mr. Mills is able to negotiate a reasonable deal with ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council approved three resolutions Thursday night to begin construction on a new police station to be completed by November, 2021. “This is a great step for Cookeville,” Council Member Eric Walker said. The council approved the $13.66 million construction costs for the facility. Council also accepted the budget for the furniture and fixtures. A water line will need ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday night supporting the city’s police department. “(The council) continues to have full faith and confidence in the law enforcement agencies providing service to the citizens of Cookeville,” Mayor Ricky Shelton read from the resolution. “(We) recognizes that professional law enforcement is NOT synonymous with those individuals that choose to abuse their authority ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council members will take the first steps toward a new fiscal year budget Monday with the first of two days of work sessions. Council Member Mark Miller said he believes the council should take a strong, conservative approach. “We need to continue allowing our essential services to function normally,” Miller said. “Some of the extra frills that we ... Read More »