Story Published:
Jul 29, 2010 at 10:01 PM CST
Story Updated:
Jul 30, 2010 at 5:46 PM CST
Back in the Spring of 2009, money was appropriated in Cookeville's budget to give approximately $40 per month step raises to a number of City employees. These step raises would have started on July 1, 2009. It would have amounted to about $240 by December, 2009--just in time for Christmas.
They never got those raises.
The issue was to be revisited in the Spring of 2010. Where are those raises? As we prepare to elect a new City Council (at least four new Council members will be elected on August 5), I ask once again: Where is the support from at least nine of the declared candidates. One such candidate, Zach Bollen, favors giving our valued City employees their just compensation.
Meanwhile, our Police Department is seven officers short. That means others have to take up the slack over three shifts. Yes, for those of you who don't know, they do run three eight-hour shifts, 24/7. That means that there is quite a bit of overtime paid and stressed officers protecting and serving us, the citizens of Cookeville. And, let's not forget that with annexation our Public Safety people are spread relatively thin. Yet, they persevere and show up when called.
But Cookeville is never lacking when it comes to spending on "quality of life issues." Dogwood Park is expanding at enormous cost. Aside: Where will people park when they go there? Also, Rails and Trails is being developed. The Drama Center has been remodeled.
Cookeville desparately needs a new, modern police station.
The current one is shoe-horned into the lower level of the Drama Center. It has needed to be replaced for at least ten to fifteen years, perhaps longer. At least the Putnam County Emergency Management Agency moved last Fall. This opened up space under the Drama Center for the Police Department. But they need more space. A new facility was mentioned some years ago for Fleming Avenue between Spring and Broad.
City Council candidates please note.
