Public Works Technician
Purpose of Position: The Public Works Technician will perform duties and have responsibilities in repair, maintenance, and construction relating to various public works activities including streets and highways, storm water, sewer, and water utilities.
Supervision Received: This position works under the direction of the Streets Superintendent of the the Public Works & Utilities Department who works in cooperation with the Utility Superintendent.
Supervision Exercised: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities other than directing staff when managing a project.
Major Duties & Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive; other duties may be required and assigned.
- Safely and effectively operate vehicles, tools, and equipment used in the maintenance and repair of Village grounds and facilities, water, sewer, and street-related activities, and construction-related activities.
- Repair and patching of streets, saw cutting blacktop, removal of sidewalk, curb, and blacktop. Other duties include adjusting manholes and valve boxes to grade.
- Employee must be able to sweep, sand, salt, plow, haul, and dispose of snow in appropriate manner from streets, highways, public parking lots, Village-owned sidewalks, and walkways.
- Install and remove plows, wings, and salters on vehicles.
- Ability to use brush chipper to cut and chip brush and dispose of the material in a proper manner. Pick up and dispose of yard waste in an appropriate manner. Ability to prune and trim trees and bushes.
- Assist in repairs and maintenance to Village owned buildings.
- Install traffic signs, street signs, and posts.
- Inspect vehicles and equipment for safe job operation, check fluid levels before operating, and make minor repairs.
- Paint and stripe streets, crosswalks, and Village parking lots.
- Cut weeds and mow parks, greenways, and waterways.
- After obtaining proper certifications and training, perform required testing and other duties for the water and sewer utilities.
Education, Experience, & Qualifications
Qualifications
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Graduation from high school or equivalent required.
- Municipal Waterworks Operator Certification in Groundwater and Distribution or ability to attain within 24 months of the hire date.
- Wisconsin Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class B within six months of the hire date.
- Two or more years of experience in public works or equivalent public sector experience desired; construction/heavy machinery operation experience also a plus.
- Knowledge of methods, materials, and techniques used in street maintenance, repair, and construction.
- Knowledge of public water supply and distribution systems and public sanitary sewage collections systems and the required maintenance, compliance, and repair related to both.
- Knowledge of and the ability to use computers, tablets, and other devices to perform job functions.
- Good oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to effectively communicate with the public and contractors in the field.
- Ability to safely operate various light and heavy machinery in the exercise of duties such as dump/plow trucks, skid steer, sewer jetter, vac truck, brush chipper, street sweeper, jackhammer, small hand tools, and others as required.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
Physical Requirements: The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to exert physical effort to complete the assigned task. This may include, but is not limited to, some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching, squatting, twisting, crawling, and lifting. The employee may be required to carry, push, and/or pull objects and materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
This position is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb, or balance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- This position is exposed to the following conditions: dirt, dust, heat, cold, noise, fumes, odors, wetness / humidity, vibrations, sudden temperature changes, and darkness.
- This position occasionally encounters the following: electrical hazards, mechanical hazards, and heights above 10 ft.
- This position encounters the following: chemical hazards and moving vehicles traffic.
- The work is performed in a variety of settings including outdoors (extreme heat or cold), shop / warehouse, vehicle, streets, and indoor office setting.
- Requires use of protective devices such as facemasks, hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection, and gloves.
- Emergency work, which includes snow removal, is sometimes required during nonstandard hours and may require overtime.
- There is occasional interaction with the general public.
Hours of Work: Regularly scheduled hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p. m. Additional hours may be required with little or no notice. Different shifts may also be required as well as call-out, on-call, and stand-by. Where applicable, overtime pay shall follow the policy of the Village of Cottage Grove.
The Village of Cottage Grove is an equal opportunity employer.