Page 12 - March April 2026 Vol 43 No 7

CITY OF MORRISTOWN
Public Works Spotlight: Paul Brown

City of Morristown Public Works Director

Tell us about yourself, your career, and
your family.
I am married to my best friend, Lisa,
and we are going on our 38th year of
marriage. We have one child, a daughter,
who is grown and married, and they
are expecting their first child. Two fun
facts: I compete in long distance, multi-
day, motorcycle endurance rallies and
completed the Iron Butt Rally, World’s
Toughest Motorcycle Rally, 11,000 miles in
11 Days. Also, I am a licensed ham radio
operator, call sign KN4ODO.
Share your official title and what duties
you perform currently. How many staff
do you have, and what departments
and work your team does. Highlight a
few projects you are implementing or
working on.
Official job title: Public Works Director.
The City of Morristown Public Works I have been with the City of Morristown My presentation was titled “Is Digital
Department is responsible for Building since 2008. I started in the Engineering Waste Management Software Worth the
Maintenance, Street Maintenance, Department and then became the Cost and Effort.” I also have had the honor
Fleet Maintenance, Traffic Signals, Public Works Director in 2013. Also, to teach a couple of times at the Tennessee
Radio Equipment for Public Works, I am a Reserve Police Officer with the Public Works Institute, TPWI.
Police and Fire Departments, Roadway Morristown Police Department where I What roles do you currently have in
signs, Roadway markings, Solid Waste help with special events, patrol, bike officer TCAPWA?
Collection, Recycling Collection, Bulk and I am also a Drone Pilot.
Waste Collection, Brush and Leaf My previous jobs have been with Audit/Policies & Procedures Committee.
Collection, Snow and Ice Operations, multidisciplinary firms as a Land Surveyor. How does your city support your
Storm Water Maintenance, Engineering, I have been a licensed Land Surveyor in involvement with TCAPWA?
and Surveying and Risk Management. The the State of Tennessee since 1996. I am fortunate to work with a team that
oversite of these divisions is split between How did you find out about TCAPWA, encourages my participation in meetings
the Assistant City Administrator and me. and how did you get involved initially? and industry events. Also, they are very
We currently have 64 employees. supportive of attending national, state
A couple of projects to highlight: When did you join? and local meetings as well as participating
• Changed Solid Waste Collection from I found out about TCAPWA from in teaching at the TPWI and being a
rear loaders to Automated Side Loaders. APWA and joined soon after moving to presenter at the PWX.
• Construction of a new roundabout: Public Works.
Walters Drive at Cherokee Drive in six During your time with TCAPWA, How have you been able to transfer
weeks. what involvement have you had? your experience from TCAPWA to
• Implementation of Samsara and your work in your city or vice versa,
Routeware Software Platforms. Positions, presentations, committees, how have you been able to take your
• Completed the new Public Works conferences attended, certifications, experiences from your city to the rest
Facility in 2020. classes, etc.? of the TCAPWA community?
I have been involved with the Audit/
How long have you worked in Public Policies & Procedures Committee and Yes. TCAPWA members have a wide
Works? What have your previous jobs have attended our local chapter meetings. range of experiences and a real depth of
been and what responsibilities did you I had the privilege to be a Presenter at knowledge that can be tapped into. I would
have? the 2025 PWX in Chicago this past year. encourage anyone in Public Works to
attend meetings and learn from others.
12 TPW March/April 2026