Page 18 - MayJune2026 Vol 44 No 1

TENNESSEE PUBLIC WORKS INSTITUTE By John Chlarson, P.E., C.P.M.
Construction Inspection in PW

The 2026 Construction Inspection in Other field exercises included learning
Public Works class of the Tennessee Public the use of penetrometers and probes
Works Institute (TPWI) was held March to expediently check soils for proper
3-6, at the Tennessee Association of Utility compaction and safety concerns.
Districts’ (TAUD’s) Training Station in Class instructors included: Bryon
Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Twenty-five Fortner, Blalock Construction: Shane
students attended the class, representing Snoderly, City of Alcoa; John Eskew,
municipalities, utilities and the private the University of Tennessee Municipal
sector across the state from Sevierville to Technical Advisory Service (UT-MTAS);
Memphis. Brad Peters, UT-MTAS: John Chlarson, John Chlarson and Alan Sparkman
Class modules included: Basic UT-MTAS; Kenny Wiggins, UT-
Surveying; Construction Inspection MTAS; Chester Darden, Public Entity to others.”
Overview; Project Preparation; Partners (PEP); Jason Fryer, TN811; and “The instructors were very professional
Communication and Documentation; Alan Sparkman, Tennessee Concrete and informative. I will definitely come to
Risk Management and Legal Review; Association. This group of instructors another training class.”
TN811 for Construction Inspection; reflected a conscious effort by TPWI to “Very informative and appreciated.”
Earthwork Soil Characteristics; Earthwork reach out and include a wide group of “All instructors were really good. Did a
General Construction; Street and subject matter experts – all of whom gave great job.”
Surface Improvements; Excavation and excellent presentations that were very “All the instructors did an excellent job
Trenching Safety; Traffic Work Zone well received judging by the following teaching all classmates.”
Safety; Confined Space Safety; Project evaluations. The next TPWI class, Maintenance
Closeout; Water, Sewer, and Stormsewer “It was a pleasure to meet with other Technologies in Public Works, is
Construction; and Concrete Construction. like-minded, like-hearted and like-spirited scheduled for May 12-15 followed by
Field exercises included using people with the same desire to learn and do Basic Supervision for Public Works,
instrumentation to run a leveling loop, things correctly and safely.” scheduled for July 7-10. Both of these
checking elevations, and learning “Very knowledgeable instructors. Very classes are full. However, the Leadership
about accurately measuring distances well taught class with endless amount of and Administration class scheduled for
and expedient methods for estimating helpful information.” November 3-6 has space available for
distances. “This was a great class, will recommend additional students.

18 TPW May/June 2026