Highway Maintenance Worker

About the Role

The Public Works Maintenance Worker performs a variety of skilled maintenance, repair, and operational duties to support McLeod County Public Works. This position plays an important role in maintaining safe and functional roadways, parks, and facilities for county residents and visitors. Work involves operating light and heavy equipment, performing snow and ice control, maintaining county infrastructure, and assisting with general facility and grounds upkeep. The ideal candidate is dependable, safety-focused, and skilled in operating and maintaining equipment in a variety of outdoor conditions.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily equipment inspections (pre-trip) to ensure vehicles are in proper working order and maintain logs.
• Document time spent on particular projects, equipment, roads, parks, or facilities, and accurately document materials used.
• Perform snow and ice control to county standards.
• Operate a variety of light, heavy, and specialized maintenance equipment.
• Perform routine equipment maintenance and repair tasks.
• Perform maintenance and/or repairs at facilities as necessary or directed.

Highway

• Perform a variety of highway maintenance and repair tasks on and around aggregate, bituminous, and concrete surfaced roads.
• Perform road and right-of-way inspections to ensure safe conditions.
• Perform work zone traffic control in accordance with the MMUTCD.

Parks/Fairgrounds

• Maintain facilities in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition.
• Perform a variety of grounds and facility maintenance.
• Perform setup functions for a variety of events.

Non-Essential Functions

• Assist other Public Works divisions.
• Perform job-related duties as assigned or apparent.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent, plus two (2) years of experience with prior responsible related work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with proof of insurance.
• Must obtain a tanker endorsement within 6 months of employment.
• Must be able to obtain forklift certification within one (1) year of employment.
• OSHA and safety training.
• Ability to respond within one (1) hour of being called for unscheduled work and/or emergencies.

Skills

• Ability to classify, compute, and tabulate data and information.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to assemble, copy, record, and transcribe data and information.
• Ability to explain, demonstrate, and clarify to others within well-established policies, procedures, and standards, as well as the ability to follow specific instructions and respond to requests from others.
• Ability to operate various communication devices and communicate effectively.
• Ability to effectively handle stressful situations in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in decision-making.
• Knowledge of applicable software applications.
• Knowledge of the operation of heavy diesel and gas-powered construction equipment.
• Knowledge of road construction and maintenance practices.
• Knowledge of snow and ice control practices.
• Knowledge of park maintenance activities.
• Knowledge of the supplies, materials, and techniques used in general building and grounds maintenance work.
• Skill in the methods, materials, and equipment used in sign installation and pavement messages.
• Ability to comprehend information contained in equipment, procedural, and safety material.
• Ability to use mechanical skill in the safe operation of equipment.
• Ability to safely use and care for hand and power tools.
• Ability to apply carpentry skills in the performance of various infrastructure maintenance tasks.
• Ability to uphold safe working conditions and procedures and follow County and departmental policies.
• Ability to identify potential hazards and correct situations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in County/State snow and ice control operations, motor grader operation, general highway maintenance work, and park/recreation maintenance.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed under conditions involving exposure to environmental factors.
• Ability to work around underground hazards.
• Ability to work early morning starts, extended hours, and weekend duty.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs.
• Ability to operate equipment and machinery requiring monitoring multiple conditions.
• Lift and carry materials weighing up to 100 pounds.
• Ability to climb and balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, push, and pull.
• Ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities or differences between characteristics.

Pay

The 2026 salary range for this position is $26.51 to $33.78 per hour, depending on experience. New hires should expect to start between $26.51 to $27.00 per hour. Relevant previous experience will be taken into consideration.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and life insurance.
• Paid holidays, sick leave, and vacation.