Page 22 - Sept-Oct 2016 Vol 34 No 3
P. 22
NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK OBSERVED ACROSS THE STATE
Public Works – Always There!
City of Alcoa City of Gallatin
The City of Alcoa Public Works and En- Gallatin’s Public Works Department observed National Public Works Week by releas-
gineering Department celebrated National ing three short videos that put average citizens in situations where they were tasked to
Public Works Week May 15-21 as designat- do the jobs of City employees.
ed by the American Public Works Associa-
tion and as proclaimed by Governor Bill Director of Public Works, Zach Wilkinson said most people don’t fully understand
Haslam earlier this year. The activities were everything his staff does behind the scenes. “We’re mostly known for curbside trash
designed to celebrate the tens of thousands pickup, but our staff does a host of things that make our city a better place to live,” said
of men and women in North America who Wilkinson. “It was interesting to see how quickly the volunteers in the video gained a
provide and maintain the infrastructure greater appreciation for what we do.”
and services collectively known as Public
Works. One of the videos featured Lori Johnson, Director of Physician Relations and Re-
cruitment at Sumner Regional Medical Center. “We don’t think about when a storm
Held during National Public Works comes through and we have bushes and branches and limbs all over our yard and we
Week, the City of Alcoa’s Public Works De- pile them up on the corner by the roadside and a couple of days later it’s all gone…and
partment participated in two community/ lots of times we don’t appreciate it, but now I do because I understand the work that
family oriented events – Alcoa Intermedi- goes behind it,” said Johnson.
ate School Career Day and Touch-a-Truck
event. The Department also held a Depart- Gallatin Public Works employs 50 professionals who are responsible for maintenance
ment equipment rodeo and appreciation and construction of city streets, sidewalks, and drainage infrastructure. The City De-
lunch for its employees. partment also provides environmental services such as curbside trash and brush pickup,
and collects recycled materials at drop-off locations.
The Department participated in the first
Alcoa Intermediate School Career Day on
Friday, May 13, to help third, fourth and
fifth grade students as they explored future
career paths. Public Works employees pro-
vided insight to all the different aspects of
the Department with personal experiences
and exhibits. Each student was exposed to
topics about safety, environmental sustain-
ability, and the importance of education.
The Touch-a-Truck experience, held at
and sponsored by Anderson Lumber Co.,
benefitted the University of Tennessee Can-
cer Institute. Equipment on display from
the Department included a crane, street
sweeper, brush truck, vac truck, along with
a stormwater pipes display that children
used as tunnels during the event. All trucks
were manned by Department employees
who helped the children understand the
vital role of each truck and the Department
in the community.
The culmination of the National Public
Works Week in the City of Alcoa was a
successful Departmental equipment rodeo
held on Wednesday, May 18, followed by
an appreciation lunch for the Public Works
employees. All employees received a 2016
City of Alcoa National Public Works Week
glass and a hat in appreciation for their
dedication. First place winners for the
equipment rodeo will participate in the up-
coming 2016 TCAPWA/SWANA Annual
Conference Equipment Rodeo.
22 TPW September/October 2016
Public Works – Always There!
City of Alcoa City of Gallatin
The City of Alcoa Public Works and En- Gallatin’s Public Works Department observed National Public Works Week by releas-
gineering Department celebrated National ing three short videos that put average citizens in situations where they were tasked to
Public Works Week May 15-21 as designat- do the jobs of City employees.
ed by the American Public Works Associa-
tion and as proclaimed by Governor Bill Director of Public Works, Zach Wilkinson said most people don’t fully understand
Haslam earlier this year. The activities were everything his staff does behind the scenes. “We’re mostly known for curbside trash
designed to celebrate the tens of thousands pickup, but our staff does a host of things that make our city a better place to live,” said
of men and women in North America who Wilkinson. “It was interesting to see how quickly the volunteers in the video gained a
provide and maintain the infrastructure greater appreciation for what we do.”
and services collectively known as Public
Works. One of the videos featured Lori Johnson, Director of Physician Relations and Re-
cruitment at Sumner Regional Medical Center. “We don’t think about when a storm
Held during National Public Works comes through and we have bushes and branches and limbs all over our yard and we
Week, the City of Alcoa’s Public Works De- pile them up on the corner by the roadside and a couple of days later it’s all gone…and
partment participated in two community/ lots of times we don’t appreciate it, but now I do because I understand the work that
family oriented events – Alcoa Intermedi- goes behind it,” said Johnson.
ate School Career Day and Touch-a-Truck
event. The Department also held a Depart- Gallatin Public Works employs 50 professionals who are responsible for maintenance
ment equipment rodeo and appreciation and construction of city streets, sidewalks, and drainage infrastructure. The City De-
lunch for its employees. partment also provides environmental services such as curbside trash and brush pickup,
and collects recycled materials at drop-off locations.
The Department participated in the first
Alcoa Intermediate School Career Day on
Friday, May 13, to help third, fourth and
fifth grade students as they explored future
career paths. Public Works employees pro-
vided insight to all the different aspects of
the Department with personal experiences
and exhibits. Each student was exposed to
topics about safety, environmental sustain-
ability, and the importance of education.
The Touch-a-Truck experience, held at
and sponsored by Anderson Lumber Co.,
benefitted the University of Tennessee Can-
cer Institute. Equipment on display from
the Department included a crane, street
sweeper, brush truck, vac truck, along with
a stormwater pipes display that children
used as tunnels during the event. All trucks
were manned by Department employees
who helped the children understand the
vital role of each truck and the Department
in the community.
The culmination of the National Public
Works Week in the City of Alcoa was a
successful Departmental equipment rodeo
held on Wednesday, May 18, followed by
an appreciation lunch for the Public Works
employees. All employees received a 2016
City of Alcoa National Public Works Week
glass and a hat in appreciation for their
dedication. First place winners for the
equipment rodeo will participate in the up-
coming 2016 TCAPWA/SWANA Annual
Conference Equipment Rodeo.
22 TPW September/October 2016
