Page 6 - TNPW Jan-Feb2018 Vol35 No6
P. 6

TCAPWA/SWANA CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS                                                           By Molly Gilbert

2017 Conference Overview

  “It’s been over a decade since Knoxville hosted the     Thanks to the KUB team for the
TCAPWA conference and we were proud to showcase           tour of the Mark B. Whitaker
our community and our incredible Public Works team!       Water Plant: Jimmy England, Plant
Hosting the final evening event at Neyland Stadium in     Supervisor; Chris Thomas, Plant
the heart of our downtown topped off what I hope was      Manager; Jeff Hooyman, Plant
a wonderful experience for all attendees,” said David     Engineer; and Ronnie Nash, Plant
Brace, City of Knoxville’s Chief Operating Officer and    Operation Team Leader.
Deputy to the Mayor.
                                                          Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero
  From November 7-9, 2017, more than 300
professionals in the Public Works field and equipment
vendors from across the state gathered in Knoxville
for the annual Tennessee Chapter of the American
Public Works Association and Solid Waste Association
of North America Conference. The agenda included
award recognition ceremonies, networking mixers, a
tour of the 1926 Knoxville Utilities Board Pump Station
and Filtration Plant, educational technical sessions and
the popular Equipment Rodeo.

  City of Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero welcomed
the group and commended Public Works employees
for making cities all across Tennessee run smoothly and
safely. “Public Works and Public Safety are the most
important basic services that residents expect of city
officials,” she said. “You fulfill the promises we make
when we get elected.”

  We were honored to have Bo Mills, APWA President,
and Keith Pugh, Region III Director, join us for the
Conference. Thank you to our sponsors and vendors, to
our host city of Knoxville, to Chairman John Anderson
and to the entire Conference Committee for their hours
of planning and hard work. Special thanks to Bonnie
Dodson and Kimberly Strong for making registration
run smoothly, and to the many other volunteers who
made this conference possible.

Touring the Mark B. Whitaker Water Plant

  From the entry gate, it is apparent that this is
a special building, and if the filtration ponds and
reservoirs weren’t visible from the road, then visitors
would wonder if they were in the right place. Upon
first glance, it would be easy for a visitor to think
that the Knoxville Utilities Board “saved” an historic
building. With the tremendous expense of rehab and
maintenance associated with preservation, it is often
the case that government steps in to rescue sites worth
historic value.

  But at the Knoxville Utilities Board building, that
wasn’t the case. In 1926, this architecturally stunning
building was intentionally built for the purpose of
serving as a pump station and water filtration plant.
Architect Victor Madison’s philosophy was that 75
percent of the operation takes places underground
and will never be seen, so the 25 percent above ground
should be an enjoyable place to work. The exterior of
the building is definitely impressive and the entryway

6	 TPW January/February 2018
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11