The City of Alcoa Public Works and Engineering Department, in conjunction with the Alcoa Electric Department is celebrating National Public Works Week (NPWW), May 19-25, 2019 as designated by the American Public Works Association (APWA).The activities are designed to celebrate the tens of thousands of men and women in North America who provide and maintain the infrastructure and services collectively known as public works.
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Sponsored by the APWA and observed each year during the third full week of May, NPWW seeks to raise the public's awareness of public works while recognizing the public works employees who are dedicated to improving the quality of life for present and future generations.
Public works professionals include those who operate, manage and maintain utilities (water, sewer, electric, gas, etc.), streets and highways, public transportation, refuse removal and disposal systems, parks, etc. as well as those responsible for maintaining public buildings and grounds. They are, in short, the people who maintain and improve the systems and services vital to a community’s health, safety and comfort.
Held around NPWW, the City of Alcoa’s Public Works Department has or will participate in several community/family oriented events. These include Alcoa Intermediate School Career Day, a Touch-a-Truck event, department equipment rodeo, and appreciation lunch.
The department participated in the Alcoa Intermediate School Career day on Friday, May 10th to help third, fourth and fifth grade students as they explored future career paths. Public Works employees provided insight to all the different aspects of the department with personal experiences and exhibits. Each student was exposed to topics about safety, environmental sustainability, and the importance of education.
The Touch-a-Truck will be held at the Blount County Library on July 20th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.. Equipment on display from the department includes a dump truck and backhoe. All trucks are manned by a department employee who helps the children understand the vital role of the equipment and the department in the community.
The culmination of the NPWW in the City of Alcoa will be a department equipment rodeo which will be held on Wednesday, May 22nd followed by an appreciation lunch for the Public Works employees. The equipment rodeo gives employees a chance to compete and test their skills in operating machinery or job related skills. The winners have the opportunity to go the state completion held in the fall.
More information about the National Public Works Week and about Public Works can be found at www.apwa.net and at http://tennessee.apwa.net
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