Page 8 - March April 2026 Vol 43 No 7

CITY OF COLLEGEDALE
Public Works Spotlight: Kris McAloon

Collegedale Director of Public Works

Tell us about yourself, your career, and Collegedale is a clean, safe and
your family. welcoming destination for our
Although I was born in Staten Island, residents and visitors.
New York, I was raised and lived in New With assistance of a $1.4
Jersey for over five decades. I retired million TDEC-ARPA grant,
from Public Service after 31 years and the City currently is under
moved down to Rock Spring, Georgia, construction of a $3.5 million
in December 2021 with my incredibly modernization of the original
amazing and supportive wife of 32 years, 1980s-era pump station,
Laryssa. We have lived there for the past attempting to keep pace
four years. with the City’s ever-growing
We are blessed to have two grandsons: population.
John Carter Piazza (almost three years How long have you
old) and Griffyn Wilder Piazza (just six worked in Public Works?
months old), who live next door to us What have been your previous jobs and Past President (2013-14). I continued to
with their parents (our daughter Dariana be interested when my career began in
and husband TJ). Needless to say, these responsibilities? Collegedale and was indirectly involved in
two little bundles keep us quite busy and Although I have only been Director the chapter through the prior Collegedale
on our toes. Additionally, we have a son, of Public Works for the past year and a Director, Eric Sines. I have been an official
Kristian John, who unfortunately left this half, I have been in government for the member since 2025.
world and entered God’s eternal kingdom past 35 years and have held many roles, During your time with TCAPWA, what
in May of last year. including Maintenance Supervisor for involvement have you had?
I am a life member of Hillsborough the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and I have attended numerous events
Volunteer Fire Co. #3 and a founding Town Engineer for the Town of Westfield, sponsored by TCAPWA, including both
member of New Jersey Red Knights a suburban community of about 35,000 the Chattanooga and Nashville annual
Chapter 20, a motorcycle club for residents just outside Newark, NJ. My conferences, while my staff participated
firefighters. I also have been involved responsibilities ranged from coordinating in various classes offered through the
with the Patriot Guard Riders, a group maintenance activities on the Turnpike Tennessee Public Works Institute.
of Americans honoring the service and across 1,000 lane miles utilizing nine
sacrifice of our servicemen and women. districts and two construction divisions, How does your city support your
to overseeing snow removal operations
Share your official title, current duties, from Newark Airport to the George involvement with TCAPWA?
The City of Collegedale has recognized
number of staff, departments and work Washington Bridge. In Westfield, my the importance of membership in this
your team does. responsibilities included developing chapter and has encouraged involvement
After serving as the Staff Engineer for and managing Westfield’s operating and and attendance at the various educational
the City in January 2022, I officially took capital improvement budgets totaling events and conferences held by TCAPWA,
over as the Director of Public Works $7.5 million annually, coordinating covering the time away and expenses
in July 2024. Collectively, a total of 25 purchases of equipment and fleet vehicles, involved for me and my staff to participate.
staff are responsible for maintaining and designing and inspecting all road paving
repairing the City’s fleet, performing right- and reconstruction projects, and running How have you been able to transfer
of-way mowing, maintaining all public an elaborate recycling/material transfer your experience from TCAPWA to your
property including Veteran’s Memorial facility, where we accepted both traditional work at the city?
Park, providing garbage collection, (brush, grass, leaves, plastics, aluminum, I have met some incredible people
collecting brush and bulk items, and cardboard) and non-traditional materials during my attendance at conferences
operating a transfer station. They also (corks, Styrofoam, food waste, batteries, and events. I often have reached out to
maintain more than 3.5 miles of greenway, toys) available to all County residents. my peers. They share experience and
perform road repairs, replace signage, How did you find out about TCAPWA, knowledge, assisting Collegedale in
implement snow removal and ice control and when did you join? solving issues faced by our City. It is a great
methods, and operate and maintain four organization that connects people from
sewer pump stations, among multiple I previously had been aware of Public across the state, who are experiencing the
other tasks. Although we have different Works associations, since my predecessor same challenges, and allows everyone to
divisions, we all work together to ensure in Westfield, Ed Gottko, was an APWA learn from each other.
8 TPW March/April 2026