City Council - Regular Meeting

This isn't funny. Thank you. Hello.

Back to what we're choosing. Well, I'm announced. Don't be shy.

Right here at the start, we will call the football city council meeting for Thursday, May 21st to order. May I have a roll call, please?

Councilman Bajie? Here. Councilman Walker? Here. Mayor Wheaton? Here. Vice Mayor Eldridge? Here. Councilman Gilbert? Here. Vice President?

Thank you. At this time, I would like to ask those that wish to do so to stand for the invocation given tonight by Pastor Mark Gall of Washington Avenue Baptist Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Here we pray. Lord, again, we thank you for this day and reminded every good and perfect gift comes from you. Thank you for our city council. We just pray for them as they liberate tonight, Lord, that you'll guide and lead them in their decisions. Thank you for Cookville. What a wonderful city we live in. We pray for continued prosperity and peace upon our city. And thank you, Lord, for the wisdom that you give us, if we'll just ask. And thank you most of all for Christ, the Lord Jesus, who died on the cross, and through him we have eternal life. In his name we pray. Amen. Amen.

Thank you, Pastor Gall. Item three, consider approval of agenda as presented. Are there any changes?

Yes, Mayor. I have one addition to the agenda. It will be item 7E. Consider approving and authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement.

Avenue railroad crossing.

Thank you. Is there a motion on the agenda as amended? So moved. A motion by Vice Mayor Eldridge, seconded by Councilman Bocce. Any discussion from the council? All right, I'll vote.

All votes correct. 5-yes, motion carries.

Thank you. 5-A, consider approval of minutes of council meeting held on May 7th, 2026. Is there a motion?

So moved.

Motion made by Vice Mayor Eldridge, seconded by Councilman Baggi. Any discussion from the council? Okay, vote on that.

All votes correct. Five yes, motion carries.

Thank you. 5B, consider on second and final reading, Ordinance 026-0101 for zoning property located on North Willow Avenue, portion of tax map 40GB001.00 from RM8 Multifamily Residential to CL Local Commercial. Mr. Ward.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. There have been no changes to our ordinance. We've had no calls or comments, so I recommend approval on second and final reading. Thank you. Is there a motion? So moved.

Motion made by Vice Mayor Eldridge, seconded by Councilman Gilbert. Any discussion from the public? Discussion from Council?

All right.

All vote.

All votes correct. 5-yes, motion carries.

Thank you. On to the consent agenda. 6-A, consider awarding bid for three 750 KVA pad transformers. 6-B, consider awarding bid for 4830. That's not all. That's the other one. Sorry. We changed my agenda and I had it written on there. Square poles and 6C, consider a warning bid for one primary wire. Is there a motion on the consent agenda?

So moved.

Motion made by Councilman Bajie. Seconded by Vice Mayor Eldridge. Any discussion from the council?

I'll vote.

5-yes, motion carries.

Thank you. 7-A, consider approval of 2026.

For the past many years we've partnered with the Cote Regional Medical Center to provide wellness screenings for our employees. This has been a well-received program. Tonight I'm requesting approval of an agreement with CRMC to provide the screenings for 2026. There are no changes from the agreement approved in 2025. The cost remains the same at $63 per employee Each for basic wellness screenings that include lipid profile, complete chemistry, and a PSA test. Of course, through this program, the employees can purchase at their cost additional tests, but the tests I mentioned are covered by the city and they cost us at $63 an employee. As I said, Monday, we have usually well over 200 that participate in this. That would include some spouses and even retirees. But the cost, what we cover is just for current employees. And last year, I think we spent $9,000, but I do think this is $9,000 well spent. And I'd recommend your approval of the agreement.

Thank you. Is there a motion? So moved. Motion made by Vice Mayor Eldridge, seconded by Councilman Baggi. Any discussion from the public? Discussion from council? All right, saying that, we'll go ahead and take a vote.

Although it's correct. 5-yes, motion carries.

Thank you. 7B, consider awarding bid for Interstate Drive Roadway Settlement Repair Project. Ms. Elrod in her pink blazer.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. So the Public Works Department received and opened bids on May 14th for the Interstate Drive Roadway Settlement Project. We received two bids with Rimco Geotechnical Contractors being the low bidder at a base bid amount of $319,200. We've evaluated this bid and deemed it good. Information, the base bid includes drilling approximately 35 primary boreholes and grouting those within the five lane roadway segment for about 100 feet. And then as needed, we have an additional alternate bid based on lump sum pricing for additional second day grout holes where we see that additional lift in the dip is possibly needed. This will be a 90-day contract with, if we can get everything turned around, a possible anticipated start date of June 22nd. And we would hope this would complete in about September, the end of September. So if you have any questions, I can answer those if you need it. But I do recommend your approval of this bid.

Thank you. Is there a motion? Motion made by Councilman Walker, seconded by? Second. Councilman Gilbert. Any discussion from the public on this item? Discussion from council?

Go ahead and take a vote. Yeah, I was ready to get this one fixed. Thank you.

But have patience with us.

All votes correct. 5 yes, motion carries.

Thank you. 7C, consider approval to allow city manager to enter into agreement with UES for construction inspection services for the interstate drive roadway settlement repair project. Ms. Elrott.

So as a part of this interstate drive settlement repair project, we are asking your approval for the city manager to enter to agreement with UES professional solutions for the construction oversight and inspection of this grouting operation. UES is the geotechnical engineer and consultant that helped us put together these bid specifications and project information. for this package, and they have proposed in this base contract amount a 15-day oversight anticipated with an estimated cost of $15,000 for these professional services. And I do recommend your approval for this.

Second. Second by Councilman Baggi.

Any discussion from the public on this? Discussion from Council? We shorten it from Interstate Drive Roadway Settlement Repair Project.

We have too many Interstate Drive projects.

We had to keep adding words to it. Okay, great. I can keep saying all that. You can go ahead and take a vote.

All votes correct. Five yes motion carries.

Thank you. 7D, consider authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with the Office of Criminal Justice Programs, renewing a Victims of Crimes Act grant. Chief Winfrey.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. We currently have a VOCA grant, which is administered by the OCJP. It's been used to fund our victim service coordinator position for several years, and we are required to renew the contract annually. We reapply this fiscal year or for fiscal year 2027 and have been awarded $54,773. The grant is used to supplement the salary and benefits of the victim services coordinator. We will be responsible for any remaining salary benefits or training. I'd be glad to answer any questions you may have, but I request your approval.

Thank you. Is there a motion?

So moved.

Motion made by Vice Mayor Eldridge. Is there a second? They get back out so much any discussion from the public on this one.

Discussion from Council that they're ever that we ever had a concern that we're losing this.

This great yeah as they've ever talked about that it's a possibility sure, but we've had it this will be the 10th year. We've had this graph.

You know the questions discussion. All right thing that we will take a vote.

Although it's current five. Yes, motion carries. Thank you.

And seven a consider approving and authorizing the city manager. The railroad crossing crossing Mr Mills.

Very council members. As you're aware, earlier this year, the National Railroad Authority and RJ Coleman approved our request. for a new railroad crossing to allow us to connect Oak Avenue, which is all part of our 39 Depot project. The City of Coot-Wool will be responsible for the cost of construction for the other crossing, but RJ Foreman will complete that or use their subcontractors, but we are responsible for the cost. RJ Corman submitted for approval a contract for preliminary engineering and design. The estimated cost for this work is $20,337.48, which must be submitted as a deposit along with the executed agreement. If the cost exceeds the amount of the deposit, we're required to submit payment, and if it's less, we'd be reimbursed. Construction of the crossing would be under a separate contract with Corman, and we'd get to that point after the preliminary engineering is done. I'd request your approval of the contract with RJ Corman for preliminary engineering and design and your authorization to execute said contract and submit payment.

Thank you. Is there a motion?

So moved.

Motion made by Councilman Baji. Is there a second?

Second.

Second by Councilman Gilbert. Any discussion from the public? Discussion from Council?

Yeah, I would like to add, you know, this all came around back in April. We looked at the designs. Kevin Tucker did a great job at working with us on that. We had a public meeting here at City Hall. I believe that was The 1st, week of May, we made some improvements to design and resubmitted that to RJ Corman and this is an important part of the puzzle to get their approval on anything that we do moving forward. So, and it doesn't say that anything's final. It doesn't say that. This is going to go forward. It's just the important thing here is that. They're going to look at our designs today, see what's been engineered and give us recommendations back. So it's a very integral part of the process moving forward with this project.

Any other comments? All right, seeing none, we will vote.

I'm trying.

We want to get out of here.

That's correct. Obvious motion carries.

Thank you. That concludes the agenda portion. Is there anyone who would like to speak to the council on any non-agenda items?

Yep.

Go ahead. If you will say your name, city or county, and about three minutes time limit.

All righty. I'm Sam Mattson. I live in Cookville City Limits right over there. I do appreciate what y'all are doing with the 39 Depot project. That's very cool and will be a nice addition to our downtown. But I'm here today to speak on data centers. It's a nonpartisan issue. We don't need them here. Data centers take money out of our pockets. They use a lot of electricity and water, and often it winds up us who winds up footing the bill for that. You can look at places around the United States where data centers have gone in, and, well, the utility...

the citizens. So that's one thing. Jobs?

project to bring in industry. You know, obviously, some of the recent announcements with the EV factories that are coming in, awesome, right? But data centers provide like a tenth of the amount of jobs that were touted, at least with some of those projects. And finally, you know, environment, quality of life. Everybody knows the issues with water and that data centers not been to council meetings until recently. But, you know, as a council, I, you know, if any, in the next few months, if any proposals for a data center comes to Cookville or Putnam County, I'd like to see Cookville flex its muscle and say, no, we're not going to allow these here. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else would like to speak to the council? All right. Zingnan, any council comments?

Happy Memorial Day weekend. And thank you. The Anthony Hall will be closed Monday. Go enjoy the new Spive Pass.

Yes, yes.

The largest one in the state. Is it really? Yes, the largest one in the state.

Are you making that up?

No, that's it. We reported on it today.

Every city has one under construction, but ours is open, so it's the largest trial.

Yes, by the way, it was very much approved by a 12-year-old and a 10-year-old who I had to drag out of there because he was still playing in it. Thank you all.

Like I said, a very happy Memorial Day. Thank you to everybody who has served and everything you do for our freedoms. I appreciate it.