Page 18 - Jan/Feb 2016 Vol.33 No.6
P. 18
TCAPWA By Rodney Keeton
Meet Rodney Keeton,
2016 TCAPWA President
I first became employed with the City Station, along with the building of the KEETON
of Collegedale Public Works Department new City Hall, the Pickle Ball courts requirement presented, and then provide
in March of 1984. I had a newborn son and several other recreational facilities the best customer service possible each and
and had just turned 22 years old when around town; the expansion of the runway every time to each and every customer. It
the furniture store I had been working and hangar space at the Collegedale is different with very different goals and
for over the three years prior went out of Airport; participation in the design and different challenges, and I look forward to
business. I had delivered some furniture implementation of our amazing Veterans meeting each one, and in going the extra
to the Collegedale Public Works Director Park and Greenway; several major sewer mile for my customers, just as I did for
who asked what I was going to do after the projects; and many road projects such as my citizens. Thank you to Eddie and John
business closed, and indicated that I should Moore Road, the widening of Apison Pike Anderson for this opportunity to build
call him if I was interested in working for at Four Corners for the installation of a another career with their great company.
the City. I had no idea what “public works” traffic light and the planning of the Apison
really was when I was hired two weeks Pike expansion. I am most excited and look forward
later. I thought it was just a place to work to carrying on and continuing the fine
when you couldn’t get a job anywhere else, Community is very important to me, not work that our past leadership has been
but after just a few weeks, I realized how only in Collegedale, but our surrounding doing, and to keep the Young Professionals
truly important the work we were doing areas. I am very active with the Apison participation growing. I would like to begin
was and the way it made me feel, like Care Team (ACT) through my church, planning ways to get more of our labor and
when we would clear trees from the streets Apison United Methodist, wherein we operator ranks more involved in TCAPWA,
after a storm, or plowing the streets and organize volunteers and help the people in perhaps by planning an operator expo.
spreading sand and salt after a snow/ice the Apison community who call us needing I have noticed in the past few years we
storm so people could get home safely. Just assistance with anything they can’t handle have had more engineering firms at our
being able to go pick up a missed garbage themselves, such as exterior home repairs, conferences. Don’t get me wrong, we need
stop and knowing what that meant to the tree and/or yard work, driveway problems, and support each and every one of them,
citizens was important to me. etc. I have also been very active over the but I feel there has been less participation
past 30 years with the Ooltewah Youth from our service-type people.
I realized very soon just how much I had Association in many capacities. I have
fallen in love with the “job.” I was like a kid coached many baseball and football teams, As for the future endeavors of TCAPWA,
playing in a sandbox, but with much bigger as well as helped with work on the fields we are looking very promising with the
toys! I knew within a few short months that and parking lots, and have served up a lot level of participation from our young
“public works” was going to be my career of pretty “mean” hamburgers and hot dogs professionals and I am excited and feel they
and set out to make that happen. off the grill at the concession stand. I have will grow and take their places in carrying
also served for many years on the Parks our great organization to new levels in the
After working for only a little over a year, and Recreation Board and take great pride future.
I was promoted to foreman, and in 1988 I in everything we have accomplished.
was promoted to Public Works Director, The only advice I would really have for
and became a member shortly thereafter of When the opportunity arose to step out anyone starting out in the field of public
the APWA. of my comfort zone and all that I’ve known works on any level is to be passionate about
for 30 years, and begin a new career with your work, and know that all of the day-to-
I would have to say, the thing I loved the Stringfellow Equipment Company, I was day seemingly mundane trials and tasks are
most about Public Works was helping the very torn. The City, its employees and well worth the satisfaction and reward you
citizens by being there for them on a daily citizens have been very good to me over will receive on every level. Get involved in
basis and getting to know each one of them the past 30 years, but with the benefit of the APWA and reap the benefits of many
personally. I feel so lucky to have spent my full retirement after 30 years of service,
entire career with one city. When I started and this great opportunity, I felt excited
in 1984 we had a town population of 2,500. to start something new, and I felt that it
The highlight of my professional career was was the right decision for my career and
being a part of the growth of Collegedale, for my family. I have been very happy to
which now has a population of over 10,000. discover that my new career is a lot like
my position in Collegedale, in that we
Major projects that I feel privileged to strive to make sure that our customers
have been a part of during my 30 years get the exact piece of equipment that will
with the City are the construction of, and serve their needs and meet each and every
then planning and replacement of, all
playground equipment of Imagination
18 TPW January/February 2016
Meet Rodney Keeton,
2016 TCAPWA President
I first became employed with the City Station, along with the building of the KEETON
of Collegedale Public Works Department new City Hall, the Pickle Ball courts requirement presented, and then provide
in March of 1984. I had a newborn son and several other recreational facilities the best customer service possible each and
and had just turned 22 years old when around town; the expansion of the runway every time to each and every customer. It
the furniture store I had been working and hangar space at the Collegedale is different with very different goals and
for over the three years prior went out of Airport; participation in the design and different challenges, and I look forward to
business. I had delivered some furniture implementation of our amazing Veterans meeting each one, and in going the extra
to the Collegedale Public Works Director Park and Greenway; several major sewer mile for my customers, just as I did for
who asked what I was going to do after the projects; and many road projects such as my citizens. Thank you to Eddie and John
business closed, and indicated that I should Moore Road, the widening of Apison Pike Anderson for this opportunity to build
call him if I was interested in working for at Four Corners for the installation of a another career with their great company.
the City. I had no idea what “public works” traffic light and the planning of the Apison
really was when I was hired two weeks Pike expansion. I am most excited and look forward
later. I thought it was just a place to work to carrying on and continuing the fine
when you couldn’t get a job anywhere else, Community is very important to me, not work that our past leadership has been
but after just a few weeks, I realized how only in Collegedale, but our surrounding doing, and to keep the Young Professionals
truly important the work we were doing areas. I am very active with the Apison participation growing. I would like to begin
was and the way it made me feel, like Care Team (ACT) through my church, planning ways to get more of our labor and
when we would clear trees from the streets Apison United Methodist, wherein we operator ranks more involved in TCAPWA,
after a storm, or plowing the streets and organize volunteers and help the people in perhaps by planning an operator expo.
spreading sand and salt after a snow/ice the Apison community who call us needing I have noticed in the past few years we
storm so people could get home safely. Just assistance with anything they can’t handle have had more engineering firms at our
being able to go pick up a missed garbage themselves, such as exterior home repairs, conferences. Don’t get me wrong, we need
stop and knowing what that meant to the tree and/or yard work, driveway problems, and support each and every one of them,
citizens was important to me. etc. I have also been very active over the but I feel there has been less participation
past 30 years with the Ooltewah Youth from our service-type people.
I realized very soon just how much I had Association in many capacities. I have
fallen in love with the “job.” I was like a kid coached many baseball and football teams, As for the future endeavors of TCAPWA,
playing in a sandbox, but with much bigger as well as helped with work on the fields we are looking very promising with the
toys! I knew within a few short months that and parking lots, and have served up a lot level of participation from our young
“public works” was going to be my career of pretty “mean” hamburgers and hot dogs professionals and I am excited and feel they
and set out to make that happen. off the grill at the concession stand. I have will grow and take their places in carrying
also served for many years on the Parks our great organization to new levels in the
After working for only a little over a year, and Recreation Board and take great pride future.
I was promoted to foreman, and in 1988 I in everything we have accomplished.
was promoted to Public Works Director, The only advice I would really have for
and became a member shortly thereafter of When the opportunity arose to step out anyone starting out in the field of public
the APWA. of my comfort zone and all that I’ve known works on any level is to be passionate about
for 30 years, and begin a new career with your work, and know that all of the day-to-
I would have to say, the thing I loved the Stringfellow Equipment Company, I was day seemingly mundane trials and tasks are
most about Public Works was helping the very torn. The City, its employees and well worth the satisfaction and reward you
citizens by being there for them on a daily citizens have been very good to me over will receive on every level. Get involved in
basis and getting to know each one of them the past 30 years, but with the benefit of the APWA and reap the benefits of many
personally. I feel so lucky to have spent my full retirement after 30 years of service,
entire career with one city. When I started and this great opportunity, I felt excited
in 1984 we had a town population of 2,500. to start something new, and I felt that it
The highlight of my professional career was was the right decision for my career and
being a part of the growth of Collegedale, for my family. I have been very happy to
which now has a population of over 10,000. discover that my new career is a lot like
my position in Collegedale, in that we
Major projects that I feel privileged to strive to make sure that our customers
have been a part of during my 30 years get the exact piece of equipment that will
with the City are the construction of, and serve their needs and meet each and every
then planning and replacement of, all
playground equipment of Imagination
18 TPW January/February 2016
