Page 20 - Nov/Dec 2020 Vol 38 No 5

STATEWIDE
Virtual Branch Meeting Well Attended
Describe year 2020 in one word?
More than 56 members attending the
August 20 TCAPWA Virtual Joint Branch
meeting were asked for answers to that
question…culminating in:
“Gone-fishing” (ok, technically two
words).
“Redo. Interesting. End. Strange. Happy.
Exhilarating. Existential. Challenging.
Mean. Evolving. Retired. Frustrating.”
And… “Ouch.”
TCAPWA President Justin Holland
kicked off the meeting titled “Covid
Strategies, Communication, and Lessons
Learned” with introductions of guests.
APWA leadership on the electronic
platform included Bill Spearman, APWA
President; Scott Grayson, APWA CEO;
Martin Williams, APWA Government
Affairs, and Keith Pugh, APWA Region III
Director.
Following greetings and a little
Chapter business, the four panelists,
Public Works Directors from across the
state, were introduced: Loretta Hopper,
Signal Mountain; Robert Knecht,
Memphis; Shane Snoderly, Alcoa; and
Zack Williamson, Gallatin. Attendees
gathered together on the Zoom platform
for over an hour and a half discussing
relevant topics affecting the current work
environment.
The call, hosted by the City of
Chattanooga and emceed by Kimberly
Strong, was punctuated with lighter
moments involving prize questions, screen
shots of participants driving in their
vehicles and attendees wearing various
masks. The panel answered a number
of questions prepared for them and also
questions from the other attendees.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
What procedures have you implemented
for essential staff such as temperature
checks, staggered or reduced staffing, social
distancing, PPE and separation barriers?
- Uniform guidelines were established
early
- Meetings moved to outside/open
buildings
- Social distancing at 6 feet
- Tried to keep everyone in their own
vehicles
- Installed a lot of Plexiglas
20 TPW November/December 2020
Compiled by Klair Kimmey
- Made PPE available to everyone How have you changed your strategies for
- Created a Covid Task Force interaction with the public and customers?
- Temperature Checks - Social Media/Facebook
- Workers were placed into crews who - Email blasts to residents who have
only worked together signed up to receive them
- Reduced group gatherings - Updated signage
- Provided a variety of PPE – not - Working longer hours to keep up with
everyone liked the same kind social media interaction
Have you found solutions to the challenge How has the pandemic affected revenue
of continuing education and essential staff streams such as sales tax, fees collection,
training while travel and training have been immediate customer financial relief? How
reduced? has that in turn impacted your short-term
- Took advantage of online sources fiscal budget?
- Took a TDEC Certification Class for - So many unknowns
- Budgets reduced
Convenience Centers. Then was able to - Some budgets supported by user fees
offer the training to recycle attendants
and teach them. were not impacted
- Found good safety training videos on - In some cases, general fund revenue
YouTube.
- Created smaller groups for training field actually went up slightly
staff - Taking a wait-and-see attitude about the
- Used outdoor spaces for training
- Less group training and more hands-on future.
training with supervisor - No cuts to personnel
How have you addressed the challenge of not - Substantial capital cuts: projects delayed,
gathering for large staff and departmental
meetings? and equipment purchases put on hold
- Utilize a large conference room for - State Street Aid funds have dropped
maximum of 10 individuals
- Lot of email communication which will impact paving budgets and
- Zoom meetings road systems repairs
- Temperature checks and masks required How has the pandemic impacted training and
- Instead of meeting at the office, meet on travel?
site of projects, outside - Travel canceled
- More one-on-one instruction but - Field staff needs credit hours, but aware
challenge is consistent message of no options for getting them
- Trainings canceled or switched to
virtual format
- Lessons Learned and Long-term
solutions