Page 10 - Sept-Oct2017 Vol35 No3

Memphis

The Annual National Public Works
Week Celebration was held in Mem-
phis on Wednesday, May 24, at City
Hall. There were exhibits, food trucks,
music, heavy equipment displays and
a special proclamation presentation
from Mayor Jim Strickland.

Participants included Public Works
Director Robert Knecht, and repre-
sentatives from Solid Waste Manage-
ment-Heavy Equipment, Environ-
mental Maintenance and Inspections,
Storm Water, Maintenance-Asphalt
Department, Downtown Elementary
School, Neighborhood Improvement-
Code Enforcement and Environmen-
tal Engineering employees. This event
was a great opportunity for the Public
Works industry to showcase services
and service excellence provided by
the employees of the City of Memphis
Public Works Division.

Sevierville

Representatives for the City of Sevierville decided to think out-
side the box for Public Works Week. The City was set to host the
annual Bloomin’ Barbeque and Bluegrass the weekend of May 19
to 20. The idea was to incorporate the promotion of Public Works
to the community by hosting a booth at the event. The booth
included equipment for observation, giveaways for kids, and an
obstacle course stretching roughly 90 feet. Public Works employ-
ees were onsite to socialize with the public, explain the operations
of the equipment, and interact with children who were excited for
the obstacle course and giveaways.

Sevierville’s Bloomin’ Barbeque and Bluegrass is a family-
oriented event celebrating the beauty of spring, championship
barbeque, and world class bluegrass music. Bloomin’ Barbeque
and Bluegrass takes place during Smoky Mountain Springfest
in historic downtown Sevierville. The Barbeque Cook-Off is an
official barbeque championship of the state of Tennessee and is
coordinated by the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce.

The equipment on site included a backhoe, tractor with a
boom mower, zero-turn mower, and a large dump truck. Families
enjoyed taking pictures with the equipment and asking questions.
Kids are typically drawn to large equipment with excited interest.
The giveaways were thought to leave a lasting impression with
something they could take away from the event. These included
yellow plastic hardhats with the City logo; additionally, APWA
sponsored balloons and temporary tattoos were given away.

The obstacle course featured items used throughout the City’s
Public Works departments. These included: 4x4 posts for “stabil-
ity posts” from the Facilities Maintenance Department, tires for
a “tire step” from the Fleet Maintenance Department, drain tiles
for a “drain tile crawl” from the Engineering/Street Departments,
garbage cans and a cargo net for the “cargo net crawl” from the
Solid Waste Department, and traffic cones for the “cone weave”
from the Traffic Control Department.

10 TPW September/October 2017