Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Cookeville public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
49 issues
Dixie Grove RAO District and Preliminary Plat
Aaron Bernhardt is proposing a 36-lot residential subdivision and RAO District establishment on North Dixie Avenue.
Grand Cascades Preliminary Plat Resubmittal
Capital Communities is asking for a review of a 23-lot residential preliminary plat on South Maple Avenue.
Bellewood Row Rezoning Study
The commission is studying a rezone request on Buffalo Valley Road from single-family residential to a planned residential development for Bellewood Row.
Carlile Townhomes Preliminary Plat
B&B Partnership is presenting an updated preliminary plat for a 7-lot townhome project on Scott Avenue and West Stevens Street.
Data Centers in Heavy Manufacturing District Zoning Code Amendment
City officials are studying new zoning rules to regulate data centers in the Heavy Manufacturing (HM) district.
Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader Contract and Privacy Concerns
The city council debated and ultimately approved a two-year contract renewal for 10 Flock automated license plate readers amid heavy resident pushback over privacy, data security, and Fourth Amendment rights. Residents and experts expressed fears regarding hacking, government overreach, and surveillance creep, while police officials defended the technology as an essential tool for solving crimes and locating missing persons.
South Willow Avenue Left-Turn Lane Right-of-Way Acquisition
The city partnered with TDOT to fund and construct a dedicated right-turn lane on South Willow Avenue at Interstate Drive to ease traffic congestion.
Dogwood Circle and Forrest Road Rezoning
Residents strongly opposed rezoning property from RS-15 to RS-10, citing worsening flooding, drainage issues, and traffic safety concerns. City officials defended the move, noting it aligns with the 2030 plan and requires strict stormwater management review.
Surplus Property Disposition on West Stevens Street
The city is selling a 27.4-acre lot to The Hollingsworth Company to support Project Green, bringing a $25 million real property investment, $15 million in personal property, and 168 new jobs to Cookeville.
Mental Health Crisis Response Grant and Program Expansion
Cookeville is applying for a $1.7 million state grant over five years to add EMT staff and a vehicle to its community response program.
Dodson Branch Road Annexation Area Rezoning
The city is moving forward with a 280-acre annexation along Dodson Branch Road, which will require a referendum vote by citizens in May. A public hearing is scheduled for March 19 to gather community feedback on municipal services.
General Obligation Bonds for Capital Infrastructure Projects
The council approved various infrastructure improvements, street widening, water line replacements, and pre-commitments for heavy public works vehicles to maintain city services and upgrade aging fleets.
Sanitary Sewer Manhole Rehabilitation
The city awarded a $1.1 million contract to rehabilitate over 7,200 feet of sewer lines and replace damaged pipe to maintain local wastewater infrastructure.
South Jefferson Avenue TVA Tower Relocation
The city received a $750,000 state grant to help pay for moving a power transmission tower at South Jefferson Avenue and Neal Street near Longhorn Steakhouse. This tower has been a frequent bottleneck and accident site for large trucks, and moving it will allow for much-needed traffic and turn lane improvements.
South Jefferson Avenue TDOT Partnership Project
The city is applying for state partnership funding to construct a much-needed southbound turn lane and pedestrian improvements on South Jefferson Avenue at Interstate Drive, committing up to $500,000 in local funds to make the project more competitive.
Interstate Drive Widening Project Change Order
The city approved an extra $221,220 to quickly fix a rough dip on Interstate Drive as part of the ongoing road widening project.
Mayor Election
Cookeville is getting a fresh face in the mayor's office as Councilman Chad Gilbert takes over the city's top leadership spot. It's a classic local government shift that sets a new tone for town policies.
Inclusive Youth Soccer Facility Grant
The city will pass a $500,000 state grant to the Joseph Warlick Memorial Foundation to help build an all-inclusive youth soccer facility.
Candidate Election
Local elections are coming up in Cookeville, and voters are getting a chance to meet the City Council candidates before heading to the ballot box. It's basically your opportunity to figure out who actually shares your vision for the town before casting your vote.
Adaptive Multi-Family Residential Reuse Zoning Amendment
The city adopted an ordinance allowing adaptive residential multi-family reuse in commercial-industrial districts, aimed at helping extended-stay properties provide stable, longer-term housing with required lease terms and voucher acceptance.
39 Depot Master Plan and Infrastructure Improvements
The council approved the master plan and land acquisition for the 39 Depot project, which will overhaul downtown traffic flow with an oblongabout, add parking spaces, and create community gathering plazas.
Energy Department Facility Expansion
The city approved a $3.37 million contract change order for plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and fire protection work on the Energy Department facility expansion.
Fiscal Year 2027 Municipal Budget Adoption
The city council reviewed and approved the $244 million annual budget, maintaining property tax rates with standard state reappraisal rounding and funding employee pay adjustments and capital projects.
Election
Eleven candidates, including local business owners and veterans, are running for leadership positions in Cookeville. Voters have a wide variety of choices to shape the city's future.
Putnam County Growth Plan Update
The city ratified the updated Putnam County Growth Plan, adding over 4,300 acres to Cookeville's urban growth boundary.
Oak Avenue Railroad Crossing Engineering
The city is asking R.J. Corman Railroad Group to approve a new railroad crossing at Oak Avenue as part of the 39 Depots project. This crossing is essential to realign Malfunction Junction and improve downtown pedestrian and vehicle safety.
Interstate Drive Roadway Settlement Repairs
The city is moving forward with fixing the settlement issues on Interstate Drive by hiring Rembco Geotechnical Contractors to drill and grout the roadway. UES will handle the construction inspection and oversight to make sure the job gets done right.
First Amendment lawsuit
A local resident addressed the city council during public comments, urging candidates and elected officials to separate personal religious beliefs from public governance.
Boyd Farris Road Rezoning
The city approved the final reading to rezone 16.43 acres on Boyd Farris Road to single-family residential use.
Heart of the City Playground Surfacing Upgrade
The city is spending up to $200,000 to replace the worn rubber surface at the Dogwood Park playground with ForeverLawn artificial turf. The project will shut down the playground for 4 to 6 weeks in September and features cooling infill to lower summer temperatures.
Economic Development
Cookeville is booming with new jobs and housing demand, but that means major changes are coming to our local roads and utilities. Expect a busier city as growth ramps up fast.
Emergency Mulch Grinder Rental
Following a fire that destroyed the city-owned mulch grinder, Cookeville and Putnam County are renting a replacement unit to maintain operations.
Boyd Farris Road Residential Rezoning
A 16.4-acre property on Boyd Farris Road is being rezoned from commercial-industrial and low-density residential to single-family residential to make way for a 74-lot subdivision.
Tennessee Central Trail Extension Property Transactions
The city is partnering with the rail trail authority to acquire and exchange property to extend the recreational trail from Garrett Avenue toward West Jackson Street. This will help connect neighborhoods to Cane Creek Park and future downtown projects.
Energy Department Digital Outage Management System
The city approved a new digital outage management system to give electric customers real-time updates and interactive outage maps. It also cuts down on phone calls spilling over to the police department.
Community Response (CCR) Program Funding
The city is stepping in to fund EMT and operational costs for the Community Response (CCR) mental health co-responder program after grant funding concludes. This program pairs mental health clinicians with first responders to manage behavioral health crises without police arrests.
UC Makerspace Facility Relocation and Expansion
UC Makerspace is seeking new space at the Cookeville Mall after losing its current location and is requesting community support for a $1.67 million buildout. This facility provides tools and technical education for local entrepreneurs and youth.
The Willows Development Infrastructure Improvements
The city and developer CHM Cookeville LLC are partnering on road paving and water line relocation to support the new Target and Home Depot shopping center development. These improvements prepare local infrastructure for increased commercial traffic.
FY 2026 Budget Amendment
The city updated its current budget to account for changes in revenues and expenses across various funds, including grants and capital projects.
Abandonment of 2018 TDOT Sidewalk Grant
The city dropped a state grant for sidewalks on North Willow and 12th Street because officials want to coordinate potential street improvements with Tennessee Tech instead.
Henley Drive Extension Project
Cookeville awarded a construction contract to Rogers Group Inc. for $533,479 to extend Henley Drive from Sam Street to Bunker Hill Road. Local property owners donated significant right-of-way valued at over half a million dollars to make the project possible.
Interstate Drive and South Jefferson Avenue Traffic Improvements
Cookeville is partnering with TDOT and hiring Clinton Engineering to redesign and widen Interstate Drive at South Jefferson Avenue to ease heavy traffic backups. TDOT will also restripe Jefferson Avenue and resurface the corridor from I-40 to the square.
Commercial Subdivision Zoning Amendment
The city council approved a zoning change allowing newly constructed commercial developments to be subdivided into individually owned lots. Council members discussed the importance of shared parking agreements and Commercial Owner's Associations to prevent parking shortages and maintain common infrastructure.
Baron Court Right-of-Way Abandonment for Public Works
The city is closing a portion of Baron Court right-of-way to expand its recycling center and public works facility, including adding storage space for winter road salt.
Rezoning Change
Cookeville City Council finally gave the green light to rezone land for a controversial methadone clinic after months of fierce public debate. This clears the way for the project to actually move forward in the community.
Environmental Lawsuit
Tennessee Riverkeeper is suing Cookeville over environmental issues, which means the city's green policies are about to face some serious legal heat. Get ready for potential changes in how local waterways and environmental rules are managed.
Police Misconduct
An Army veteran is suing Cookeville and its police department for excessive force after cops confronted him while he was sleeping in his car. This mess could cost the city serious cash and brings some unwanted, heavy heat onto local police tactics.
Confederate monument debate
Cookeville is caught in a heated debate over what to do with its local Confederate monument. Residents are clashing on whether the historical marker should stay put, get updated context, or be removed entirely.
Monument Signage
Cookeville is looking to clear up its legal liability by adding signs around the local Confederate monument to explicitly state the city doesn't own it. This comes as a way to distance the local government from the controversial site while the debate over its presence continues.