E

Decherd has filled an alderman’s position that has been vacant since August 2022 with John Corak officially giving his oath of office on Jan. 4.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved Corak’s selection during a special Dec. 16, 2022, meeting. However, he wasn’t able to be sworn in by General Sessions Judge David Stewart until last week.

Darrel Corn was also in the running for the position, but the board agreed to go with Corak, a 47-year-old Social Security claims specialist who works at the Tullahoma office.

Corak, who has been on the Decherd Planning Commission, said he wanted to serve as an alderman because he wants to make Decherd a better place to live. He added that he would give something back to the community.

Corak referred to those who visit Decherd.

“I want this to be a place people want to move to,” he said. “I want people who’ve been here and have gone through town to like what they see and want to stay here.

“I want to help make a difference to be able to do that.”

Corak highlighted that change for Decherd is inevitable, and people want to see it occur in a positive way.

He said proper growth will bolster job creation, and Decherd needs to target infrastructure improvements to accommodate that.

“Infrastructure is a top priority,” Corak said, referring to providing ample water and sewer service to accommodate industrial and residential development. “We need to do that so we can grow and get people to move here.”

He said Decherd needs to play a strong role in providing amenities that benefit residents such as maintaining and improving the city’s park areas and developing bike trails.

Mayor Mary Nell Hess said she thinks Corak will be a great addition to the board.

“He does a great job on our Planning Commission and will do the same as an alderman,” she said. “He will be a tremendous asset to the city of Decherd as an alderman.”

Corak said he likes to volunteer in efforts and projects that benefit people, and serving as an alderman is an extension of that approach.

When Hess gave her oath of office to become mayor in October 2022, she highlighted many of the objectives Corak addressed.

She said plans are to develop a bicycle/pedestrian path to link North Middle School to Decherd Elementary School and on to the city’s Babe Ruth baseball field. She added that it would make a huge difference in being able to more easily access those areas. 

In 2021, 10 Tennessee cities were awarded $1.4 million from the Tennessee Department of Transportation for such projects which averages out to $140,000 per grant.

The downtown-improvement grant would be appropriated through the Department of Economic and Community Development. Grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded to organizations that can illustrate the need for improvements and the ability to execute an effective design plan for building facades, wayfinding signage, courtyards, gateways and streetscapes, according to the ECD.

Hess said that more than $25,000 has also been appropriated to equip Hank Weddington Park with new playground equipment.

Hess and Corak said a top priority is continuing with and extending the solid relationship Decherd has with Nissan North America which has the Nissan and Infiniti automobile plants in the city.

Hess said Nissan’s presence has been a tremendous benefit to Decherd and Franklin County, and the company plans to remain a strong corporate citizen.

“A lot of people have benefitted from them being here,” she said.

Hess said that Nissan has boosted the local economy and has made Decherd a great place to live.

“We have a lot to offer taxpayers,” she said.