Meet Tyler Freeman, Hillsborough’s Civil Engineering Technician
It’s National Engineers Week! Meet Hillsborough’s civil engineering technician, Tyler Freeman.
Freeman joined the Hillsborough Utilities Department in May 2022. Originally from Ohio, he received his civil engineering degree from The Ohio State University and moved to North Carolina in 2019 to do geotechnical and site civil design work for a telecommunications company. He made the switch from telecom to utilities because he wanted to be more involved with the community in which he resides.
“This position allows me to physically witness the work on projects I’m involved with and see the benefits to the community at large,” he said.
Freeman primarily works with the town’s utilities director and environmental engineering supervisor to make sure developers are installing water and sewer lines according to state and town specifications, codes and standards. He also helps choose and work with contractors who design and install system upgrades for the town, including installing new water mains, repairing pumps and replacing a water tank.
Freeman talks with property owners who want to obtain town water and sewer services and with customers who have issues with their services. He also provides staff support to the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee, a group of in-town and out-of-town water customers who provide recommendations to the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners regarding the town’s utilities operations.
This civil engineer enjoys that no two days are the same and that a lot of his work is behind the scenes.
“When things are running smoothly, you never know we are here,” Freeman said. “Our maintenance crews put in a lot of work on maintaining the system and its efficient operation.”
National Engineers Week provides an opportunity to spotlight the effort of the town’s engineers, but Freeman wants to recognize that he shares that spotlight.
“The team aspect of working in the Utilities Department and the town at large is my favorite aspect of working for the town,” Freeman said. “Everyone is willing to help out, provide insight or expertise and work toward maintaining and improving the system. We all work together when the unexpected happens — such as a waterline break — and work to restore services as quickly as possible.”
