Page 24 - Sept/Oct 2015 Vol.33 No.3
P. 24
National public works week May 17-23, 2015
Celebrating Public Works in TN
Chattanooga Chattanooga State Technical Community tary. This project aimed to cleanup a nice
College where students learned about the neighborhood stream and raise awareness
by Justin Holland vast opportunities available in a public among participants about trash as a storm-
works field from technical, professional, water pollutant. It also demonstrated how
The City of Chattanooga celebrated and skilled trade employees. The Depart- trash can be both aesthetically displeasing
Public Works Week with a number of em- ment of Human Resources collaborated and an impediment to stormwater flow.
ployee and community outreach activities during the event providing a list of job
that spanned the entire week. openings and answering questions from The Department of Public Works em-
students about the many other positions ploys over 600 people who were invited to
At City Council, the Mayor presented in the city. lunch with the Department Administrator
a proclamation recognizing the week as Lee Norris, Mayor Andy Berke, several
“Public Works Week” and also recognized At an equipment rodeo held at the Ross’s City Council members, and other City de-
Dennis “Buck” Saunders as the depart- Landing Park in Downtown Chattanooga, partment leaders and sponsors. This year
ment’s “employee of the year.” Mr. Saun- many of the department’s heavy equipment the department held the first annual corn
ders is an employee in the Sewer Mainte- operators competed for coveted prizes hole tournament at the luncheon with
nance Department of the Waste Resources while practicing for the Annual TCAPWA nearly 20 teams. Door prizes, acknowl-
Division and is a 50-year veteran of the Conference being held in Chattanooga this edgements, and annual award recipients
department. Coming from a lineage of City year. Participants enjoyed friendly competi- were announced and recognized at the
employees, his father worked for the City tion, and everyone who participated and luncheon as well.
of Chattanooga for more than 50 years as volunteered had a great time wooing the
a garbage man and from a young age, he onlookers visiting the park for the day. Collierville
would often go with his father to work, rid-
ing in a horse-drawn buggy helping his dad In an effort to bring awareness to by Susan Agee
pick up garbage. As Saunders celebrated his recycling and the recycling sorting process
50th anniversary with the City of Chat- in Chattanooga the department brought When Public Services Director Bill Kilp
tanooga in November, the City Council 39 employee volunteers to work side-by- came to work for the Town of Collierville
proclaimed November 11, 2014 as “Buck side with Orange Grove Center clients at in 1999, he initiated an annual Public
Saunders, Jr. Appreciation Day.” Orange Grove Center’s material recovery Works Equipment Rodeo for the employ-
facility. The Orange Grove Center in ees of the Public Services Department.
Heavy equipment and Public Works Chattanooga employs more than 130 indi- The rodeo is a part of National Public
Week banners were prominently displayed viduals with intellectual and developmen- Works Week, and it gives public works
throughout the city at key intersections tal disabilities and has been a recycling employees a chance to demonstrate the
and parks. This equipment quickly draws partner with the City of Chattanooga for very specific equipment operating skills
attention to Public Works Week and signi- more than two decades. they use every day in making Collierville a
fies the type of heavy lifting that public livable community.
works is most prominently known for in Employee volunteers also cleaned a
many cities. stream in South Chickamauga Creek National Public Works Week is offi-
watershed by removing over 1,500 pounds cially May 17-23, but Collierville’s Public
A public works career day was held at of trash and 15 tires from a small tribu-
24 TPW September/October 2015
Celebrating Public Works in TN
Chattanooga Chattanooga State Technical Community tary. This project aimed to cleanup a nice
College where students learned about the neighborhood stream and raise awareness
by Justin Holland vast opportunities available in a public among participants about trash as a storm-
works field from technical, professional, water pollutant. It also demonstrated how
The City of Chattanooga celebrated and skilled trade employees. The Depart- trash can be both aesthetically displeasing
Public Works Week with a number of em- ment of Human Resources collaborated and an impediment to stormwater flow.
ployee and community outreach activities during the event providing a list of job
that spanned the entire week. openings and answering questions from The Department of Public Works em-
students about the many other positions ploys over 600 people who were invited to
At City Council, the Mayor presented in the city. lunch with the Department Administrator
a proclamation recognizing the week as Lee Norris, Mayor Andy Berke, several
“Public Works Week” and also recognized At an equipment rodeo held at the Ross’s City Council members, and other City de-
Dennis “Buck” Saunders as the depart- Landing Park in Downtown Chattanooga, partment leaders and sponsors. This year
ment’s “employee of the year.” Mr. Saun- many of the department’s heavy equipment the department held the first annual corn
ders is an employee in the Sewer Mainte- operators competed for coveted prizes hole tournament at the luncheon with
nance Department of the Waste Resources while practicing for the Annual TCAPWA nearly 20 teams. Door prizes, acknowl-
Division and is a 50-year veteran of the Conference being held in Chattanooga this edgements, and annual award recipients
department. Coming from a lineage of City year. Participants enjoyed friendly competi- were announced and recognized at the
employees, his father worked for the City tion, and everyone who participated and luncheon as well.
of Chattanooga for more than 50 years as volunteered had a great time wooing the
a garbage man and from a young age, he onlookers visiting the park for the day. Collierville
would often go with his father to work, rid-
ing in a horse-drawn buggy helping his dad In an effort to bring awareness to by Susan Agee
pick up garbage. As Saunders celebrated his recycling and the recycling sorting process
50th anniversary with the City of Chat- in Chattanooga the department brought When Public Services Director Bill Kilp
tanooga in November, the City Council 39 employee volunteers to work side-by- came to work for the Town of Collierville
proclaimed November 11, 2014 as “Buck side with Orange Grove Center clients at in 1999, he initiated an annual Public
Saunders, Jr. Appreciation Day.” Orange Grove Center’s material recovery Works Equipment Rodeo for the employ-
facility. The Orange Grove Center in ees of the Public Services Department.
Heavy equipment and Public Works Chattanooga employs more than 130 indi- The rodeo is a part of National Public
Week banners were prominently displayed viduals with intellectual and developmen- Works Week, and it gives public works
throughout the city at key intersections tal disabilities and has been a recycling employees a chance to demonstrate the
and parks. This equipment quickly draws partner with the City of Chattanooga for very specific equipment operating skills
attention to Public Works Week and signi- more than two decades. they use every day in making Collierville a
fies the type of heavy lifting that public livable community.
works is most prominently known for in Employee volunteers also cleaned a
many cities. stream in South Chickamauga Creek National Public Works Week is offi-
watershed by removing over 1,500 pounds cially May 17-23, but Collierville’s Public
A public works career day was held at of trash and 15 tires from a small tribu-
24 TPW September/October 2015
