Page 17 - Mar-Apr24 Vol 41 No 7

SEVIERVILLE By Doug Tarwater
PW Spotlight: Doug Tarwater

Public Works Director

First, tell us about yourself, your career, I have worked
and your family in Public Service
since 2014. I spent
Well, I am an 8th generation about eight years
Tennessean and 6th generation Sevier at the Tennessee
Countian, and I couldn’t be prouder to Department of
work for the citizens of and visitors to Transportation
my hometown! I graduated from the (TDOT) prior to
University of Tennessee in 2009 with my leaving to come work
bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and for my hometown.
am a Licensed Engineer in Tennessee. I spent those eight
My wife and I have two children ages years in a variety
3 and 1 and my family is my whole of roles managing
world! We live just east of Sevierville highway maintenance
and absolutely love spending time on the and construction
lake when we can in the summer and projects through
enjoying the Great Smoky Mountains the TDOT Operations Division,
and Tennessee Football in the fall! culminating in my role as the Director classes and got the chance to teach a
Share your official title and what duties of Maintenance Operations immediately section of pavement management this
year as well.
you perform currently. How many prior to leaving for Sevierville. Before
staff you have, and what departments my time with TDOT, I worked for What roles do you currently have in
and work your team does. Also maybe Britton Bridge, LLC, serving in project APWA?
highlight a few new projects you are management and engineering roles on
implementing or working on. major bridge projects across the state I am a member of the TCAPWA
(including the Henley Street Bridge Upper East Branch.
My official title is Public Works rehabilitation in Knoxville). Before
Director, and as such I am responsible that, I spent time in the Maintenance of How does your City support your work
for day-to-day operations and planning Way and Structures Division of Norfolk in APWA?
for the Public Works Department. In Southern Railway. The City of Sevierville recognizes the
Sevierville, Public Works consists of importance of professional organizations
the street department, solid waste, How did you find out about APWA, and encourages APWA participation.
facilities, traffic operations, engineering, and how did you get involved initially?
and fleet. We have 67 employees (or When did you join APWA? How have you been able to transfer your
at least positions) and, along with the I was only vaguely aware of APWA experience from APWA to your work
City of Sevierville, we have seen quite until my time with Sevierville. I joined in your City/Company or vice versa,
a bit of growth over the past few years. in 2022 and have been AMAZED at the how have you been able to take your
One of the projects that most folks wealth of resources, comradery, and experiences from your City/Company to
will notice when visiting Sevierville knowledge exchange offered by APWA the rest of the APWA community?
is the new development near exit 407 and TCAPWA. I have taken countless thoughts, notes,
off of I-40 called “The 407: Gateway to ideas, and plans back from APWA
Adventure” which features the largest During your time with APWA, what conferences in just the past two years!
Buc-ee’s in the world! This project, involvement have you had? Positions, We have actually purchased several
while still ongoing, has been successful papers, presentations, committees, pieces of equipment that have improved
to date and highlights the importance conferences attended, certifications, our work processes through knowledge
of partnerships between governmental classes, etc? gained from APWA programs.
agencies and private entities.
I have attended PWX in Charlotte
How long have you worked in Public in 2022, and in San Diego in 2023, If you would like to recommend someone to
Works? What have your previous jobs SnowCON in Omaha in 2023, and the be featured in a Public Works Spotlight, please
been and what responsibilities did you TCAPWA annual meetings in 2022 and send us their name and contact information.
have? 2023. I have attended multiple TPWI Reach out to info@tnpublicworks.com. Thanks!

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