Cookeville council approves budget amendments, withdraws from TDOT sidewalk grant and clears multiple contracts

The Cookeville City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to approve a package of budget changes, withdraw from a Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) multimodal sidewalk grant for portions of West 12th Street and move forward with several public-works contract adjustments.

City staff presented an annual progress report on annexation-area plans of service, saying municipal services including police, fire, water and street maintenance are being delivered and sanitary sewer remains the principal remaining service being extended in phases. "All required municipal services are being provided in these annex areas, and sewer service continues to expand through phase construction projects," Mr Ward told the council during the presentation.

Why it matters: the actions change how the city will approach near-term infrastructure projects and budget priorities. Councilors approved first reading of a budget amendment ordinance that the presenter said increases general-fund revenues by $416,000 and expenditures by $537,660, with corresponding adjustments across the tree board, quality-of-life, general improvement bond, transportation and insurance funds.

On transportation, staff recommended formally abandoning the city's participation in a 2018 TDOT multimodal access grant that would have built sidewalks along State Route 135 (North Willow Avenue) and West 12th Street. City staff told council that recent local plans and potential streetscape work make it advisable to withdraw. A council member urged residents not to read the action as abandoning sidewalks on West 12th: "We know that it's extremely needed, especially with a lot of students who are there," the council member said, and added the city will explore a possible streetscape project in partnership with the university and pursue other funding options in the future. Council voted 4-0 to authorize the mayor to notify TDOT and complete close-out steps for the grant.

On land use and local regulations, the council approved first reading of Ordinance O260203 to amend Title 8, Chapter 5 of the municipal code to exempt the Putnam County Convention Center & Fairgrounds and indoor spaces at the Leslie Town Center from the city's special-event alcoholic beverage permit requirement; the parking lot contiguous to the Leslie Town Center would remain a location where such permits are required. "The amendment would be to specify that a special event alcohol beverage permit is not required for events at the Putnam County Convention Center And Fairgrounds and indoors at the Leslie Town Center," Mister Mills told the council.

Procurement and contracts: the council authorized rejection and rebid of the semiannual mineral-aggregate bid after staff reported only one bid (Vulcan Materials) was received and that award would have raised prices about 12–15%. The council also approved change order No. 2 for the water treatment plant generator project — adding SCADA monitoring, a remote enunciator panel, wiring and security lighting — at an added cost of $22,434; and approved Amendment No. 1 to the engineering-services agreement for the standby-power project, adding $16,000 for additional construction administration and inspection time. Staff said the city's share for those projects is covered at roughly a 5% local match where grant funding applies.

Votes at a glance: agenda approval — motion carried 4-0; minutes (Feb. 5) — approved 4-0; consent agenda (server licenses, traffic controllers, paving/asphalt/milling awards) — approved 4-0; acceptance of annexation progress report — approved 4-0; Resolution R260204 abandoning the TDOT multimodal grant — approved 4-0; Ordinance O260203 (first reading) amending special-event permit requirements — approved on first reading 4-0; Ordinance O260202 (first reading) FY26 budget amendments — approved on first reading 4-0; reject/rebid mineral aggregate — authorized 4-0; water treatment plant change order No.2 — authorized 4-0; engineering amendment No.1 for standby power — authorized 4-0; acceptance of the mid-year financial report (July 1–Dec. 31, 2025) — approved 4-0.

What’s next: the ordinance amendments and budget changes were advanced on first reading where required; staff will notify TDOT to close out the sidewalk grant and will pursue alternate funding or a university partnership for a West 12th streetscape, as discussed during the meeting. The council adjourned at the end of the Feb. 19 session.

Sources: Cookeville City Council meeting transcript, Feb. 19, 2026.