Page 24 - Mar-Apr19 Vol36 No7

TCAPWA EVENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS

Upper East Branch Meets at Uncle Buck’s ByScottGilbert

At the Upper East Branch meeting, important step in preparing for winter working order,” said Hammonds.
held at the Bass Pro Shop in Sevierville weather events is to “treat snow removal The City of Knoxville also performs
on Tuesday, January 22, the 51 attending as a year round process.” Vehicle
members and guests enjoyed an maintenance should be regular and a big maintenance round-up in late
informative panel discussion on Snow on-going. A kick-off event in Kingsport November or early December. During
and Ice Response. Although the panel signals the beginning of the snow this time, they also focus on new driver
members each come from different preparation season. In late October or training. When the drivers are prepared
communities with unique challenges, the early November, they spend a week on to use the equipment effectively and
discussion revealed several important equipment inspection, insuring that safely, the process moves more quickly
factors that are crucial for every Public “every piece of machinery is in good and more smoothly.
Works response to winter weather events.
Having crews ready before an event
After announcements about TPWI
classes, information about new Left to right: Chipper Wyatt, Street Services Supervisor, City of Alcoa; Ronnie Hammonds, Street
TPW officers and a plug for APWA Superintendent, Kingsport; Wayne Cope, CMI Equipment Sales; Branch Director Nick Bradshaw, Deputy
membership benefits, forum moderator Director of Fleet Services, City of Knoxville; and Chad Weth, Public Service Director, City of Knoxville.
and Branch Director Nick Bradshaw,
Deputy Director of Fleet Services, City of
Knoxville introduced the panel: Ronnie
Hammonds, Street Superintendent,
Kingsport; Chipper Wyatt, Street
Services Supervisor, City of Alcoa; and
Chad Weth, Public Service Director, City
of Knoxville. As the discussion unfolded,
two concepts came to the forefront
several times: be prepared and be public.

Be Prepared

To begin the panel discussion,
Hammonds suggested that the most

24 TPW March/April 2019