Highway Maintenance Worker (Public Works)

Position Summary

This position is responsible for maintaining safe travel conditions on assigned highways and maintaining the equipment used. It also performs maintenance on County equipment, buildings and grounds, including parks, while meeting departmental safety policies and procedures.

Pay

Salary $25.08 – $32.21 hourly.

Schedule

Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (8 hours per shift, 10 shifts per pay period). Full‑time hourly non‑exempt. Work may include evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and an on‑call winter schedule from October 15 through April 15.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Remove snow and de‑ice assigned highways.
• Maintain federal interstates, state highways and county roads.
• Install and remove snow fencing.
• Mark curbs and culverts.
• Patrol for down or missing signs.
• Chip seal and crack‑fill roads.
• Patch holes in pavement.
• Repair shoulders with gravel.
• Clean drainage structures.
• Trim trees and brush from roadsides.
• Mow shoulder grass and weeds.
• Replace and repair county road signage and support road marking (painting).
• Remove animals and debris from roadway.
• Report new driveways or utility work in the right‑of‑way.
• Repair guardrails.
• Operate equipment including forklifts, wheel loaders, rollers and other machinery.
• Conduct preventative maintenance checks and services on a broad range of equipment.
• Maintain and install snowplows, snow wings and sanders.
• Maintain mowing tractors and mowers.
• Perform seasonal activities such as crack filling, shouldering, culvert replacement, blow‑up repair, concrete repair, black‑topping, brine production, flagging traffic and setting up lane closures.
• Work long hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays as needed.
• Work overtime as required, including on‑call winter schedule.
• Demonstrate a commitment to county safety and risk management efforts.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: High school diploma or equivalent and two to three years of relevant prior experience. Ability to calculate discounts, interest, proportions, percentages, and apply basic algebra and geometry to calculate area, circumference, volume, or land measures.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations and Other Special Requirements: Valid Wisconsin Commercial Driver's License – Class A or B required upon hire (Class B hires must obtain Class A within six months). Wisconsin Commercial Driver's License – Tanker Endorsement N required within six months. Good driving record for the past ten years. Heavy‑equipment operator’s license preferred. Must wear steel‑toe safety shoes (annual $100 stipend per Walworth County Ordinance Section 15‑394). A written test may be required for applicants outside this classification.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to drive a 41,100 lb GVW truck with manual transmission.
• Ability to operate a tractor for roadside mowing and perform other roadside maintenance.
• Knowledge of road construction and maintenance.
• Knowledge of traffic laws, ordinances and regulations governing equipment operation.
• Knowledge of driver preventative maintenance of equipment (truck, tractor, end‑loader, backhoe, grader).
• Understanding of occupational hazards and safety precautions for motor‑driven equipment in rough, slippery, icy, or unstable conditions.
• Ability to understand, remember and follow oral and written instructions.
• Basic computer skills for documenting work efforts and completing timecards.

Tools & Equipment Used

• Vacuum cleaner
• Computerized sander controls
• Telephone
• End loaders
• Calculator
• Plow trucks
• Copy machine
• Computers for inventory and timecard documentation

Work Environment

The employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, outside weather conditions, and vibration. Occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; toxic or caustic chemicals; and extreme heat. Noise level is usually loud.

Physical Demands

The position requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, using hands, reaching, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, talking, hearing, and smelling. Frequently lifts and/or moves up to 50 lb and occasionally lifts up to 100 lb. Vision requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Selection Process

• Formal Walworth County electronic application
• Education & experience review
• Verification of commercial driver’s license
• Oral department interview
• Driving test
• Reference check
• Background check
• Post‑offer physical exam
• Drug screen
• Other job‑related tests as required

Benefits

• Accrued scheduled time off (10 days after 1 year, 15 days after 5 years, 20 days after 15 years).
• 64 hours of personal time off per year (pro‑rated for part‑time).
• Ten paid holidays annually (pro‑rated for part‑time).
• Health, dental, vision, life, short‑term disability and long‑term disability insurance (eligibility based on FTE).
• Health insurance options: Tier 1 (standard co‑pay) or Tier 2 (HDHP with HSA contribution).
• County contributes to HSA for Tier 2 plans.
• Dental coverage paid 100 % for full‑time, 50 % for part‑time.
• Term life insurance $25,000 with optional additional coverage.
• Short‑term disability premiums paid by employer.
• Long‑term disability premiums split 67 % employer / 33 % employee.
• Vision insurance (employee pays full premium).
• Wisconsin Retirement System eligibility (minimum 1,200 hours per year).
• Educational assistance after 6 months of employment.
• Tax‑sheltered benefits: Deferred compensation (S457), medical spending account (S125), dependent care plan (S125), health savings account (S223).
• Workers’ compensation coverage with supplemental lost‑time payment for up to one year.