Tag Archives: James Mills

Cookeville City Council approved the first reading of its new fiscal year budget Thursday night. The budget features $29.9 million in revenues with some $29.45 million in expenses. Expenses increased some seven percent. Finance Director Brenda Imel said the city will focus on increasing pay for city employees starting with an adjustment to the city’s pay grades. “This will be ... Read More »

Cookeville City Manager James Mills said he is disappointed to hear there are delays in the Jefferson Avenue widening project. However, Mills said this is to be expected with a major project like this. Mills said that with project pushed 2022, he will be happy just to see work begin. “The planning process started more than 20 years ago,” Mills ... Read More »

Cookeville City Manager James Mills said the recent events involving a firefighter pay scam should not reflect on the entire fire department. In a release by the city Friday afternoon, Mills said an internal investigation had been launched prior to the Tennessee Comptroller Office’s investigation. Retired Cookeville Fire Captain Marvin Montgomery and current Captain Shawn Roberson face charges of payroll ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council approved an actuarial study Thursday night to try and correct the retirement records of the city and Cookeville Regional. The state made a mistake in the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System during the 1999 medical center split from the city. Hospital employees should have been transferred from the city account to the hospital entity. That did not happen, ... Read More »

Cookeville Electric will propose no rate increase in the new budget year. During Wednesday’s meeting with city council members, Electric Department Director Carl Haney projected revenues of $54.18 million. One of the major infrastructure programs would be a pilot program to bury power lines in some city subdivisions. Haney said the department wants to start at Sherwood Forest. “A lot ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council will consider a plan Thursday night to pay city employees $50 to get a COVID vaccine. The plan would cost the city no more than $25,000, including payments to those who have already been vaccinated. City Manager James Mills said he wants to encourage those on the fence. “I had several directors come to me and ask, ... Read More »

Cookeville will apply for a community development block grant to rehab sewer facilities in the West End area. City Council approved the $741,000 grant application Thursday night. Planning Director Jon Ward said the city applied in 2020, but fell two points short in the assessment process. “Our application was very close to being funded,” Ward said. “With guidance from the ... Read More »

Cookeville hopes to move forward with sidewalks on East Spring Street this Spring. The question is, how much sidewalk can they buy six years after getting the grant? City Manager James Mills said the estimated project cost has doubled since applying. “A new estimate we’ve got Greg is substantially more than what we originally budgeted for this,” Mills said. “What ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council member Charles Womack wants the city’s charter changed to prohibit senior employees at Cookeville Regional from serving on city council. Under the resolution that will be considered Thursday night, any high level employees including chiefs and department heads would be prohibited from serving on council while remaining employed at Cookeville Regional. “I thought it would be reasonable ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council approved a change to the Police Headquarters construction project Thursday night, creating more space for the IT and Telecommunications Division. Police Chief Randy Evans said the third-level of the station will include some 1,386 square feet of space for the new division. The third floor project would provide space for three offices, the IT server and additional ... Read More »