Full-Time Public Works Maintenance Operator

About the Role

Performs a variety of apprentice-level skilled duties related to the construction, installation, maintenance, and repair of City storm drain and land drain systems, streets, street lighting and traffic control systems, water, secondary water, and sewer systems.

Responsibilities

• Streets, Traffic Control, and Drainage:
  • Operates specialized heavy equipment such as single & tandem axle dump trucks, road graders, cats/bulldozers, front-end loaders, backhoes, bucket trucks, snow plows, and similar equipment for construction, maintenance, and repair projects.
  • Operates light equipment including sweepers, mowers, street vacuums, rollers, cement mixers, pick-ups, tractors, forklifts, spreaders, and various hand and power tools.
  • Transports and deposits construction materials like sand, salt, gravel, and dirt; performs hot mix patching, storm drain cleaning, repair and construction, snow and ice control, gravel street maintenance, street sweeping, cold mix patching, and debris collection.
  • Installs, maintains, and repairs street lights and traffic lights, including bulbs, ballasts, capacitors, photocells, fuses, poles, and related components; troubleshoots and wires lights to ensure proper functioning.
  • Provides diagnostic expertise to locate power sources and communicates solutions to construction crews and contractors.
  • Checks and services assigned equipment; performs routine maintenance and emergency repairs; reports mechanical problems for shop repair.
  • Assists as a mechanic helper or apprentice for seasonal fleet maintenance; performs complex mechanic duties under supervision.
  • Installs and maintains city signalization devices and street signs; prepares barricading for streets, water, and related public works projects.
  • Performs general maintenance such as painting, raking asphalt, pouring and finishing cement; maintains, cleans, and repairs tools and equipment.
  • Conducts ground maintenance and construction work using hand and power tools, including building forms and framing projects.
• Water and Secondary Water:
  • Operates heavy equipment such as six or ten-wheel transport trucks, patrol, backhoes, rollers, and trenching equipment for installation or repair of water service connections, water lines, meters, fire hydrants, and water mains.
  • Repairs or replaces plugged water meters; thaws frozen lines; cleans and maintains storage tanks; connects and disconnects service; locates shut-off valves and water line leaks.
  • Assists in placement of pipe and water regulators; removes, disassembles, cleans, or replaces defective parts of regulators; adjusts pilot valves for efficient water line service.
  • Installs new water lines using forklifts, pipe threaders, tapping machines, welders, pipe cutting saws, and pipe/cable locators; tears out and repairs curb, gutter, and street to uncover broken lines.
  • Builds meter boxes and extensions to raise or lower existing boxes as needed.
  • Operates hand tools and small power equipment such as jackhammers, rollers, compressors, packing machines, gophers, tampers, and tapping machines; cleans tools and equipment.
  • Maintains pump houses; repairs water/booster pumps; removes, disassembles, cleans, and replaces defective parts; greases bearings, adjusts packing, and reinstalls pumps.
  • Monitors city water well storage levels; ensures proper operation of telemetering equipment; tests and replaces fuses and resistors as needed.
  • Reads residential and commercial water meters for accurate billing; performs field and shop repairs on water meters, including disassembly, cleaning, and replacement of defective parts.
  • Sets blue stake markers; conducts water sampling and delivers samples to county health for analysis.
  • Monitors chlorine levels; tests water using DPD tester to ensure proper chlorine residual levels; reads water flow meters and chlorine pound-per-day gauges; calculates and adjusts chlorine dosage.
• Sewer:
  • Performs sewer collection system installation, maintenance, and repairs; operates equipment such as tapping machines, jackhammers, compactors, rodding machines, and sewer trucks.
  • Monitors sewer line flow; stimulates flow using high-pressure water from sewer trucks; maintains and cleans city sewer collection system main lines.
  • Inspects manholes and sewer lines to detect leaks or malfunctions; bolts leak-proof collars to mains; seals joints with cementing compound; opens clogged sewer lines using pipe cleaning equipment.
• Participates in work zone safety procedures; flags vehicles to protect the public and workers; sets up warning signs and signalization equipment.
• Assists in monitoring division supplies; conducts inventory of parts and equipment; reports results to supervisor.

Requirements

• Graduation from high school.
• Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in a field directly related to the duties described, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills

• Working knowledge of specifications, grades, machinery, materials, and methods for constructing roads, bridges, drainage systems, and culverts.
• Basic principles of supervision and employee motivation; safety standards related to road construction; hazards common to heavy equipment operation.
• Knowledge of equipment maintenance and repair; legal liabilities associated with street construction, maintenance, and personnel management; right-of-way laws and ordinances.
• Basic computer operations and software applications.
• Skill in operating heavy mechanized equipment under varying conditions; ability to make minor repairs on assigned vehicles.
• Ability to perform heavy physical labor; develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, elected officials, local agencies, and the public.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written; ability to work in extreme weather conditions.
• Diplomacy and cooperative problem-solving skills.

Special Qualifications

• Must have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or be able to obtain one within 6 months of hire.
• Must be able to lift 50-75 pounds.
• Must be willing to work on-call duty and 24-hour standby.