Tag Archives: City Manager James Mills

Cookeville City Council will vote Thursday night to resume right-of-way acquisition for the South Willow Avenue/West Jackson Street intersection improvement project. Economic and Community Development Director Jon Ward said the amendment would give the city right-of-way for dual northbound turn lanes and a dedicated westbound turn lane. He said the original contract amount was some $218,000. He said this contract ... Read More »

Utility work underway, the first stage in widening the next stretch of Cookeville’s 10th Street. In this phase, workers will convert the road to two lanes in each direction with a center-turn lane, from Old Kentucky Road to Fisk Road. Public Works Director Mary Beth Elrod said crews are relocating underground utilities, such as sanitary sewer, storm sewer and water. ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council passed on final reading Thursday a change to the zoning code allowing private and parochial schools in the Commercial-Industrial Mixed Use District. The council asked city staff and the planning commission to consider changes to the rules in that district, potentially eliminating rules that might not apply to schools. Those changes will be considered at a later ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council will vote Thursday night to appoint a new member of the Cookeville Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees. Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton said Justin Cumby has agreed to serve. City Manager James Mills said Carl Owens has resigned from the board with two years remaining on his term. Mills said after serving the remaining two years of ... Read More »

A project to resurface and add striping for bike lanes on Cookeville’s Cedar Avenue is scheduled to finish up in the next few weeks. City Manager James Mills said the project includes milling and resurfacing from Broad Street to Seventh Street. He said he is excited to connect Cookeville Regional Medical Center and Tennessee Tech with a more pedestrian and ... Read More »

Mary Beth Elrod has been hired as Cookeville’s New Public Works Director after Blake Mayor stepped down after two years as director. Elrod has been with Cookeville Public Works since May 2022. In her role as an engineer, she was responsible for designing and reviewing expansion and improvement projects. She graduated from Tennessee Tech with a degree in civil and ... Read More »

The City of Cookeville is moving closer to a comprehensive sewer extension plan to answer growing demand and needs. City Manager James Mills said the top priority is extending sewer services to areas with failing septic systems. He said areas without adequate sewer capacity that are primed for development will be next on the list. He said the Water Quality ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council is reviewing a request for the annexation of a five-acre track on North Nelson Avenue, off Highway 70 west of town, currently suffering from septic failure. Community Development Director Jon Ward said the owner of the property has requested that the property be annexed to receive sewer services from the city. He said adding sewer capacity to ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council discussed the potential to allow private and parochial schools in Commercial Industrial zones as New Colossus Academy looks to build on the Mackie Farm. Community Development Director Jon Ward said public, technical, vocational, and K-12 schools are already permitted in CI zones. He said this would align private schools with the city’s other educational uses. Council Member ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council will vote Thursday on a request from Tennessee Tech to commit an additional $3 million for the school’s Tucker Stadium renovation project. City Manager James Mills said the city has paid some $400,000 thus far on a $1 million agreement the city made in 2022. He said the money will be paid from hotel/motel tax revenue at ... Read More »