Page 8 - Vol40 No3 Sept-Oct2022

KINGSPORT By Lisa Hood Skinner
Addington Wins 2022 Snoderly Award

Each year the Tennessee Chapter
presents the Murphy Snoderly
Award to a deserving Public Works
employee within the state. The
recipient of this award must be an
operation level or “working person”
employee. Murphy Snoderly, for
whom the award is named, was a
long-time engineering and Public
Works consultant for the state
Municipal Technical Advisory
Service. He felt the working
person, the man or woman who
day in and day out picks up
garbage or patches streets or
performs dozens of other chores at
a relatively low pay scale, should
be recognized for dedication and
service to the community. The
award is presented annually at the
From the City of Kingston, left to right: Alderman Darrell Duncan; Chris McCartt, City Manager; Vice-Mayor Colette George; TML Conference, this year held in
Bill Sturgill, Utilities Maintenance Superintendent; BK Addington, Wastewater Maintenance Crew Leader; Alderman Betsy Gatlinburg.
Cooper; Calvin Clifton, Mattern & Craig; Bart Rowlett, City Attorney; and Ryan McReynolds, Deputy City Manager.
“If I Can Help You, I Will” Leading the Department’s Rapid Sturgill said. One example is when BK
Anyone who’s spent any amount of Response was able to respond, investigate, inspect,
time around Buster K. (BK) Addington, Through his tenure and experience, and help the Town of Mt. Carmel get
has heard this promise “If I Can Help BK has been instrumental in developing back in sanitary sewer service. In fact,
You, I Will” from his lips. Buster (widely the program from reactive-based to he’s has been requested by name to
known as “BK”) has been an integral part proactive maintenance, Sturgill said. assist when needed through the City of
of the City of Kingsport’s Sewer Division “BK encourages team members to adopt Kingsport’s Interlocal agreement process.
since 1990, and many say he’s an been good work documentation and asset Mentoring and Inspiring Future
inspiration every year since then. knowledge, which in turn allows the
The city’s Wastewater Maintenance improvements of maintenance plans.” Employees
Crew Leader, BK was nominated for “BK continually adds value in assisting Sturgill gave a poignant example of
TCAPWA’s 2022 Murphy Snoderly Award with the implementation of technology how BK’s mentoring and leadership has
by Billy C. Sturgill, Utilities Maintenance such as Cartegraph (asset management changed lives, saying “during what I
Superintendent with the City of program) and IT Pipes (CCTV believe was the first City of Kingsport’s
Kingsport. When reading about BK’s inspection software) to ensure the data Public Works Day, a young man was
leadership and good work in Kingsport is accurate,” he said. “Over the past three introduced to BK and the CCTV
(and in other regions), it’s not hard to see decades he has become a huge part of inspection equipment. BK engaged with
why he won this year’s award. our successes through his dedication the young man (Christian Pennington),
Sturgill says BK’s knowledge base and hard work; his willingness to make explaining and demonstrating the
is impressive, spanning his different a difference and inspire others; and his camera inspection equipment.”
positions in Kingsport as utility worker, contagious enthusiasm. He has developed “Several years later, and as a result
CCTV operator, and crew leader over into much more than just a crew leader.” of BK’s involvement of recognizing
CCTV inspections. “BK has proven to be an interest, that young man is now a
a constant resource (go-to guy) when it To the Rescue CCTV Camera Operator for the City of
comes to the understanding and nuances On more than one occasion BK Kingsport. This young man will carry
of our system,” Sturgill said. “He has a has been called upon to assist one of the torch into the future solidifying BK’s
positive impact on whomever he comes in Kingsport’s neighboring towns in getting legacy.”
contact with, customers or co-workers.” their sewer system back in service,
8 TPW September/October 2022