Page 24 - July-Aug2024 Vol42 No2

TCAPWA EVENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS
First Responders Kick Off Meeting and

Middle Branch Lunch & Learn By Calvin Clifton

The Tennessee Chapter and the Middle Engineering, Pavement Technology, heard a presentation by Williams that
Tennessee Branch were fortunate to Viking Cives, and Walker Building touched on Government Affairs and the
have an official visit by Marty Williams, Group and Bronze Sponsors, CDM important role that Public Works plays
APWA Government Affairs Manager from Smith, Mattern & Craig, and Rogers. as First Responders. After Williams’
Washington, DC. Williams arrived on The excellent event was attended by over presentation, a buffet lunch was served,
Tuesday, May 14 and met with members of 40 Public Works professionals. Swann and attendees enjoyed networking and the
the Chapter over dinner. recognized the sponsors and the group games at TopGolf.
The next day, May 15, Williams and
Chapter representatives met with TDOT
Commissioner Butch Eley; Will Reid,
Deputy Commissioner and Chief Engineer;
and Steve Townsend, Chief of Staff.
Williams, Jason Brooks, Calvin Clifton,
Phillip Jones, Klair Kimmey, Casin
Swann, and Chapter Administrator Mark
Miller attended the meeting at TDOT
Headquarters. There were two main topics
of discussion for the meeting:
• TDOT’s ideas and thoughts on
supporting potential legislation formally
recognizing Public Works employees as
First Responders in Tennessee
• Discussion of the possibility of APWA Left to right: Steve Townsend, TDOT Chief of Staff; Will Reid, TDOT Deputy Commissioner and Chief Engineer;
Public Agency Membership for TDOT Jason Brooks; Mark Miller; Casin Swann; TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley; Phillip Jones; Calvin Clifton; and
Commissioner Eley is a longtime Marty Williams, APWA Government Affairs Manager.
supporter of Public Works and the role
they play in operating, maintaining, and
repairing the infrastructure and facilities
throughout our towns, cities, counties,
and state. TDOT will investigate within
state agencies and work with TCAPWA
to investigate the details, legalities, and
possible legislation required to formally
recognize First Responders.
We were asked about other state DOT’s
that are APWA agency members. We
agreed to get additional information staff
and follow up with TDOT to discuss
further. This would be a major boost
for the Chapter membership and would
allow TDOT staff to attend APWA
National events such as PWX and the
Snow Conference while interacting with
members across the state at Chapter and
Branch events and the annual TCAPWA
Conference.
Following the meeting at TDOT,
the Middle Tennessee Branch held a
branch meeting at TopGolf. Middle
Tennessee Branch director, Casin Swann,
secured multiple sponsors including
Gold Sponsors, Gresham Smith, LDA
Engineering, and TriGreen Equipment and
Silver Sponsors, CMI Equipment, Collier
24 TPW July/August 2024