Highway Operator 1

Join our team and make a difference in your community as a Highway Operator. This vital role maintains highways, roads, and other transportation infrastructure in Sauk County to ensure optimal condition for drivers and pedestrians. Highway Operators preserve the integrity of transportation networks, promote smooth traffic flow, and enhance overall safety and efficiency for the public.

About the role

The Highway Operator I performs a variety of maintenance duties and repairs vehicles, machines, and equipment for the Sauk County Highway Department.

Pay: Applicants with a valid CDL at time of hire start at $26.47/hour. Applicants without a valid CDL start at $24.22/hour until a CDL is obtained.

Responsibilities

• Operate road maintenance, construction, and repair vehicles and equipment including trucks, rollers, water trucks, front-end loaders, tractors, mowers, brush chippers, compressors, semi-tractor and trailer, shop crane, conveyor, portable traffic signals, pavement saws, chainsaws, cement mixers, compactors, loaders, jackhammers, curbing machines, weed trimmers, cutting torches, and snowplow trucks.
• Use judgment based on public safety to remove snow and ice from roadways and apply treatments for winter maintenance activities.
• Operate brush cutters, asphalt kettles, weed sprayers, forklifts, and various hand tools while remaining conscious of traffic and crew safety.
• Fill cracks and potholes with paving materials.
• Transport heavy equipment to job sites with truck and trailer.
• Replace and repair road signs, guardrails, and other roadway markers to meet current traffic safety standards.
• Perform routine maintenance on equipment and trucks, including fueling, checking oil, coolants, lubricants, and tire pressure.
• Mow right-of-way and trim or remove brush while maintaining traffic and crew safety.
• Perform or assist mechanics with minor repairs and maintenance to tools and equipment.
• Assist with signing and traffic control, ensuring work zones are set up correctly for public and crew safety.
• Sweep bridges and maintain a daily activity log.
• Provide traffic control for construction, maintenance, and utility work zones.
• Respond to roadway emergencies, applying traffic control or debris removal to restore traffic flow safely.
• Pick up debris and trash, and remove roadway obstructions.
• Contact Sheriff’s Department and other agencies regarding motorists in distress.
• Clean offices, restrooms, and meeting rooms; collect and dispose of waste, separating recyclables.
• Sweep floors, strip and apply wax, wash windows, dust furniture, and vacuum or shampoo rugs.
• Gather litter from grounds, mow grass, trim trees and shrubs, and remove snow and ice from walkways.
• Perform minor repairs to plumbing fixtures and lawn mowers.
• Secure doors, windows, gates, and gas pumps at night.
• Contact personnel for emergency conditions outside regular hours.
• Receive and distribute weather reports during storm activities and load truck drivers during emergencies.
• Fabricate, repair, and maintain road signs and work zone traffic control according to federal and state standards.
• Install road maintenance signs, guardrails, and other highway markers on State, County, and Local roads.
• Operate equipment for sign installation and maintenance, including trucks, loaders, cranes, chainsaws, trimmers, and snowplowing equipment.
• Install and maintain signs and barricades for highway project detours and road closures.
• Direct highway traffic lights during maintenance and repair projects.
• Maintain a computer database of all County road sign locations and related activities.
• Complete documentation required by the County or Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) for sign installation, repair, replacement, or removal.
• Maintain sign manufacturing equipment, signs, supplies, and order new materials as needed.

Requirements

• 2 years of heavy equipment operating experience.