Page 23 - Sept-Oct 2025 Vol 43 No 4

PW Spotlight: John Chlarson, P.E., CPM

UT-MTAS Consultant

I have been married to Jennifer (Jenny)
Chlarson (Trevathan) since October the
15th, 1988. The date was a home game for
the Vols and her aunt, Janet Thompson,
predicted that no one would be at our
wedding. (Fortunately, plenty showed
up.) Jenny and I are blessed with two
sons, Jonathan and David, who blessed us
with two daughters-in-law, Katie Moore
Chlarson and Hannah Baroni Chlarson
(we always wanted some girls in addition
to our boys). Jonathan and Katie have also
blessed us with a live wire of a grandson,
Joe Conrad Chlarson. Joe has our hearts. Hannah and David; Katie, Jonathan and son Joe Conrad, along with Jenny and John Chlarson.
I enjoy church, family time, DIY,
woodworking, leathercraft, reloading, for the Jackson Tennessee Branch of Hart- TCAPWA, all contribute immensely to my
target shooting, the outdoors, cards, Freeland Roberts. job satisfaction and to my reluctance to
dominoes, board games, books and movies. I was the engineer in responsible charge discuss retirement.
I was a scoutmaster for over 12 years, and for the Paducah Kentucky firm of DS&E,
both of our sons are Eagle Scouts (all of us inc., over engineering and established a CAREER SNAPSHOT
had a lot of support from Jenny). I used materials testing laboratory which was Public Works/Utility and Engineering
to play the trumpet, the French horn, the approved by the Corps of Engineers, the Consultant, University of Tennessee Municipal
dulcimer, and the violin. I currently play Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) – John
the harmonica, the kazoo, and the radio. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. provides professional advice/technical
I have over 40 years’ experience in a wide I have worked for The University of assistance to Department Directors, Mayors,
variety of engineering applications, having Tennessee’s Municipal Technical Advisory City Managers, and other elected and
worked for government, industry, and Service (MTAS) since June 1, 1998. appointed municipal officials. John also
private consulting. While I was with the City of Paducah, provides advice and assistance for non-city
I have done work in industry, including I was a member of the Kentucky Chapter clients, including elected staff members of
site selection, design and construction of of APWA and attended my first national the Tennessee General Assembly, employees
new facilities, facility maintenance, and conference and exposition in Chicago. of state agencies, staff of the Tennessee
classical industrial engineering. When I went to work for MTAS, Sharon Municipal League, and officers of associations
However, most of my work has been in Rollins (MTAS) and Frank Kirk (Mr. of municipal officials. His city load has varied
environmental and municipal engineering, Wonderful- TCAPWA) “suggested” that from one-third of the state to all of the state,
municipal infrastructure construction I join APWA. MTAS has supported my currently being half of the state.
and inspection and public works Tennessee Chapter involvement as well as Secretary, Tennessee Chapter of the
administration and consulting- totaling my participation on APWA committees at American Public Works Association
about 36 years. the national level- which helps all of us in (TCAPWA)
I was Director of Engineering and the public works community.
Environmental Services in Paducah, I enjoy the TCAPWA fellowship, Co-Chair, Tennessee Public Works Institute
Kentucky. I had the sewage treatment plant resources, and support. Member, Water Resources Management
division, the collection system division, I have been allowed to give back by Committee and Knowledge Team,
the floodwall division, stormwater permit teaching classes and making conference American Public Works Association (APWA)
compliance, environmental services, presentations, writing articles for the Secretary (ad-hoc), Tennessee Stormwater
construction inspection, and engineering Tennessee Public Works Magazine, and by Association (TNSA)
under my direction. I worked closely with serving as the Chapter secretary and the
the director of streets, fleet and sanitation. Co-Chair of the Tennessee Public Works B.S., Civil Engineering, Tennessee
I have worked for private design Institute. Technological University
firms, doing municipal infrastructure In my work, TCAPWA and public works PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION:
design, inspection, field engineering and consulting are a constant blend. Professional Engineer, TN
construction administration. My friends across the state – co-workers, Professional Engineer, KY (inactive)
I was the Engineer in responsible charge clients of MTAS and fellow members of Professional Engineer, IL (inactive)

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