Tag Archives: Eric Walker

The Cookeville City Council wants to continue the dialogue on race during August. Councilman Eric Walker said he hopes the council will continue these discussions for months to come. “I just certainly don’t want to quickly address the topic and it just be words,” Walker said. “I do want to see that the city is doing all it can to ... Read More »

The Cookeville Planning Commission voted to delay a vote on new residential parking districts Monday night. The districts are designed to limit street-side parking by non-residents. Commission members said they had questions about the specific language of the regulations. Planning Director Jon Ward said his department will compile answers for consideration at the August meeting. The Planning Department crafted the ... 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 »

A monument that several speakers admitted they never knew existed until this week brought impassioned pleas from local residents Thursday night. The Cookeville City Council heard from some 39 residents during more than 90 minutes of public comment. The council decided during a Monday night work session to place signage at the City Cemetery noting all headstones and monuments were ... Read More »

The Cookeville City Council wants to move forward with a community dialogue on race relations. City Council Member Eric Walker suggested a coming together of council and local leaders to look at ways the community could promote better understanding. “I think if you if you have a calm setting and you can bring all minds together and discuss an issue ... Read More »

The Cookeville City Council will not consider resolutions about confederate symbols on city property or monuments at the city cemetery. Both issues will likely be pursued through administrative means based on council directives to the City Manager. At Monday’s council work session, City Manager James Mills said he could enforce a policy that only a Tennessee state flag, an American ... Read More »

The Cookeville City Council unanimously approved a resolution to support inclusion Thursday night. “The City of Cookeville would like to recognize that Black Lives Matter,” Council Member Mark Miller said. “Our community will continue to promote diversity and inclusion in order to make Cookeville a safe place for families regardless of race, to grow, learn and succeed.” Council Member Eric ... Read More »

The head of the Upper Cumberland Home Builders Association said he expects the residential construction boom to continue. President Eric Walker said local builders and subcontractors have worked through the tornado and overcome the challenges of COVID-19. “The numbers look very good for both the county and the city,” Walker said. “Increases over last year for the county looked, and ... Read More »

Cookeville’s proposed city budget will include no property tax increase while pursuing what City Manager James Mills calls “a very conservative approach.” Mills outlined the $29 million budget in Monday’s first council work session. Finance Director Brenda Imel said the budget represents a 5.5 percent reduction in income from the current fiscal year’s plan. “We’re in good financial shape,” Mills ... Read More »