The Cookeville City Council held its final public hearing on the proposed Dotson Branch Road annexation Thursday night, clearing the way for voters in the affected area to decide the issue.
Cookeville Community Development Director Jon Ward said the proposed annexation includes approximately 258.5 acres and 55 parcels just outside the current city limits. If approved by the 871 residents, the area would be incorporated into the city and begin receiving municipal services.
“This resolution is the next step in the annexation process,” Ward said. “This resolution would call for a referendum election for the proposed annexation of the Dodson Branch Road annexation area into the city of Cookeville and would also approve the proposed plan of services for the area.”
Ward said the annexation effort began nearly a year ago after a property owner petitioned the city, with boundaries later expanded to create a more logical service area. With it being the last public hearing, Ward emphasized that the city has conducted an extensive process to notify property owners of the proposed annexation.
“We’ve sent mail letters to everybody in the territory… and also to all the adjacent properties,” Ward said. “We’ve published multiple notices in the newspaper, put signs up in the territory, and posted copies of the resolution at multiple places in the city.”
County Commissioner Gene Mullins addressed the council and clarified that his thoughts are his personal thoughts and not a reflection of the county commission. Mullins said he is concerned about the extended timeline for the city providing sewer service to the area should it be annexed.
“Saying that sanitary sewers will be provided when economically feasible is a promise of service. It’s not a plan of service,” Mullins said. “I think you owe it to the people who potentially will be affected… to at least provide a target date for when sewers will be available.”
Ward said infrastructure improvements, particularly for water and sewer, would depend on costs, development, and other factors, with total estimated capital expenses exceeding $7 million.
Ward said when measuring the overall support for the annexation, the city received about a 50/50 split. Council Member Eric Walker said passing the resolution marks the final step before the referendum.
“We didn’t just go out and initiate this randomly,” Walker said. “This was a request that came in. There’s the opportunity for the property owner to vote on this to decide whether they want to come into the city or not. We’re just trying to give you those opportunities.”
Council members emphasized what they described as key benefits of annexation, with City Manager James Mills highlighting enhanced public safety services.
“One of the biggest things we hear is it’s full-time fire protection from a class two fire department,” Mills said. “That’s worth the money right there… not to mention all the benefits from a federally accredited police department.”
Following the public hearing, the council approved the resolution formally calling for the referendum.
The vote will take place May 5, 2026, alongside the county primary election. The deadline to register to vote is April 6, and early voting will run from April 15 through April 30.
In other business, council set a May 7 public hearing on a North Willow Avenue rezoning request, approving a GIS software agreement, and authorizing purchases for city equipment and the energy department.
Council approved a $58,600 audit contract for fiscal year 2026 with Blankenship CPA Group.
An engineering services agreement not to exceed $100,000 for energy department projects was also approved. Mills said these include a new southeast substation and transmission rebuilds between the South Cookeville and the East Cookeville substations.