Page 20 - Mar-Apr2022 Vol39 No7

STATEWIDE By Ronnie Hammonds
TPWI: Successful But Challenging Year

When planning began for the before the classes to ensure everything Chester Darden and John Lynch from
Tennessee Public Works Institute for was going according to plan. Public Entity Partners, and John Pearson
2021, we all knew challenges would A Few Hiccups Along the Way from the Tennessee Concrete Association.
be ahead. After a year off due to the The first class of the year was the Our third and final class of the year
Coronavirus pandemic, it was felt an Public Works Supervision class in was the Introduction to Construction
attempt should be made to start the August, with 15 students. However, Inspection, held in December. With 17
classes back up. this class was the perfect example of attendees from 11 different cities, this
Changes due to Covid were expected, how Public Works is a First Responder class had the highest average score on
with some cities still facing travel Organization. Catastrophic floods hit the final exam than any other class on
restrictions, budget restraints and Middle Tennessee the weekend before the record. Instructors were Kenny Wiggins,
employee requirements for continued class start date, and Clarksville’s students Ronnie Hammonds, John Chlarson from
social distancing. However, cities still missed class to assist in the hard-hit area MTAS, Mark Miller from Pigeon Forge,
had needs and requests for training, so near Waverly. Bryon Fortner from Sevierville, and Alan
we felt with proper precautions in place, Instructors in the class, which Sparkman from the Tennessee Concrete
TPWI could offer the regular line-up of comprised students from five cities, Association.
three classes. were John Chlarson from MTAS, Bryon Recapping 2021
We decided to limit the size of the Fortner of Sevierville, John Fox from For the recap: in 2021, TPWI served
classes to approximately 15 participants Collierville and Bo Mills representing 44 different students across the state,
to allow for social distancing in the Germantown. from Kingsport to Germantown,
classroom, and we purchased masks and The year’s next class was September’s representing 13 different cities. Classes
hand sanitizer for those who wanted or ever-popular Maintenance Technologies were taught by 13 different instructors,
required them. Little did we know that for Public Works. Due to an unexpected ranging from retired to active Public
other challenges would crop up during family death, Ronnie Hammonds could Works professionals, to higher education
the year. not attend the class, but Kenny Wiggins professionals and those in private
Three Classes Offered was a ready replacement, with additional enterprise.
Survey results from an early February assistance from John Chlarson. A slight A big thanks also goes to our
needs assessment revealed that we hiccup occurred regarding the class field instructors from the Tennessee Concrete
should offer three classes: Public Works training equipment, but (to our rescue) Association and the Public Entity
Supervision, Maintenance Technologies Murfreesboro’s TPI attendees obtained Partners, who have been with TPWI
for Public Works and Introduction to the needed equipment, proving again that from the beginning. TPWI looks forward
Construction Inspection. We explored Public Works organizations are adaptable to another successful year in 2022 and
the classes’ and venues’ timeframes, and willing to do get it done. encourages every city in Tennessee to
tentatively settling upon the end of Fifteen attendees from seven different consider sending employees to us for
August, the end of September and the cities attended this class, instructed by their training needs. For any questions
first of December. Kenny Wiggins, John Chlarson from about TPWI, contact John Calvert or
In midsummer, we adjusted our MTAS, Shane Snoderly from Alcoa, Ronnie Hammonds.
workflow to the current
COVID conditions, with
John Calvert (TPWI Director
since its inception) working
on preliminary and on-
site advance details, but
limiting his participation
and excluding being in
the classes. He booked the
rooms, meals and instructors
and obtained the needed
manuals.
Ronnie Hammonds
planned to attend all the
classes and work onsite with
the hotel on classroom setup
and troubleshooting. John
and Ronnie planned to meet

20 TPW March/April 2022