Page 7 - Sept-Oct 2019 Vol37 No3

Kingsport

The May 24 Kingsport Public Works Day was open to
the public, allowing the city to showcase the many services
provided to our citizens, and prompting record attendance.
Various vendors at this eighth annual event provided free
food and drinks for employees, as well as the public.

Children of all ages toured the equipment and exhibits,
riding in bucket trucks, climbing into the seat of a garbage
truck, inspecting the snowplow, a wooden mini excavator,
an electric car and a Police Cruiser converted to propane.
Painting stations included “make & take” manhole cover
signs. There were continual lines for face painting (and
rightfully so, as a couple of very talented young ladies
provided their time for this event.) Folks took photos with
Stormy; listened to music by “Band PW” and visited with
Dave the Engineer.

As in past years, other exhibits included a sand table
replicating the city with photos, streets, and water/sewer lines;
a traffic lane using markings and signs, and a speed table
for folks to ride through on gators. A microscope display
provided information about the microscopic organisms used
in the biological process of treating water, and water bottles
were given to those in attendance to fill with Kingsport’s very
own water. Booklets called “The Amazing Journey of Water
– My Water River to Tap” (explaining where our water comes
from) were distributed to all ages.

The highlight for this year’s event originated with the
theme for National Public Works week – “Public Works,
It Starts Here.” What starts here? Infrastructure starts with
public works. So, this year the vehicles/equipment were
arranged in order demonstrating the process for a complete
street. Attendees participated in the self-guided tour with
informational signs, and employees on hand explained their
involvement in the process. It started with Water Services
– installation of sewer, water, and storm lines; moved on to
concrete/asphalt streets, sidewalks, mobility paths, traffic
signs and signals; and ended with garbage/recycling/trash
collection services.

The “wow factor” for this year’s event was the house built
by our folks, decorated with a wreath and mailbox. Kids and
adults enjoyed opening the door to the house located at
8 Public Works Way, Kingsport TN.

We’re already in the planning stages for next year’s Public
Works Day, and are looking forward to building on this
successful event.

View online at tnpublicworks.com 7