Job Summary:

The Utilities Maintenance Worker operates, inspects, monitors, repairs, replaces and maintains all City owned public utility systems and appurtenances, including: motors, pumps, valves, sewage lift stations, and all other public utility property and equipment.

Scope of Responsibility:

The Utility Maintenance Worker has the primary scope of performing maintenance related duties surrounding sanitary sewer and water infrastructure, vehicles and equipment, grounds, and buildings. The employee works under the general supervision of the Utility Working Foreman and Utility Superintendent and has no supervisory or budgetary responsibility. This position performs intermediate troubleshooting or analysis, and decision making is within established parameters having a limited financial impact.

• Performs regular inspections of pumps, motors, fire hydrants, reservoirs, water mains, sewer mains, valves, sewage lift stations, and all other public utility property and equipment.
• Reports any irregularity in the operation of public utility equipment.
• Replaces/repairs defective equipment including motors, valves, worn piping, water meters, pumps, etc.
• Repairs equipment and facilities as needed, including broken water and sanitary sewer mains, pumps, motors, damaged fire hydrants, water meters, plugged sewer lines, etc.
• Maintains utility equipment and infrastructure, including equipment lubrication, valve operations, hydrant operations, hydrant maintenance, sewer cleaning, water flushing, painting, etc.
• Assists in restoration to the original condition any road or ground disturbed by utility repair and/or maintenance.
• Reads water meters when assigned for utility billing.
• Gathers the data from flow meters, hour meters, and gauges as determined necessary by the supervisor.
• Records data as required. Reads infrastructure as-builts to field locate utilities for repair.
• Responds to water and sewer emergencies that take place during non-scheduled work hours in 30 minutes or less.
• Works periodic after hours and weekends (on call duty) monitoring water distribution and sewage collection systems. Makes any changes necessary to insure the availability of the water and gathers data as required from the water and sewer system.
• Works safely using proper tools and PPE (personal protective equipment), follows all city safety policies and participates in OSHA required training as assigned.
• Receives and acts upon work orders. Performs related work as apparent or assigned.
• Operates sewer cleaning equipment as directed by the Working Foreman.
• Operates snow removal equipment as directed by the Working Foreman.
• Other duties as assigned or apparent.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Applies knowledge of water distribution and sewage collection systems.
• Able to work with utility tools, equipment, pumps and controls safely and effectively.
• Must anticipate and identify problems within the sewer and water systems and take the proper actions to resolve the concerns.
• Develops and maintains good working relationships within the overall organization and individual customers or vendors as well as the public.
• Uses a high degree of tact, courtesy, and sound judgment.
• Ability and desire to project a professional image through knowledge of job, working independently or as a team, with a positive attitude, and accurate and timely completion of work.
• Ability to safely complete minor electrical, plumbing and carpentry work utilizing power hand tools.
• Ability to lift heavy objects, walk and stand for long periods of time, and to perform strenuous physical labor under adverse field conditions.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing, and to understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to utilize computer technology in a Windows environment.

Tools and Equipment Used:

• Pickup trucks and one ton trucks with and without snowplows
• Sewer jet/vac truck
• Single axle dump trucks used in maintenance projects, snow removal, and ice control operations
• Skidsteer loaders and other front-end loaders smaller than two-yard bucket capacity
• Miscellaneous hand and power tools for turf maintenance, carpentry, painting, plumbing, electrical, and cement finishing work
• Pumps, valves, and controls
• Janitorial equipment including vacuums, mops, and brooms
• May occasionally operate the following heavy equipment:
  • Backhoe
  • Frontend loader with two yard or greater bucket capacity
  • Tandem axle dump trucks
• May also operate other equipment as directed by the Utility Superintendent or Working Foreman.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum job requirements are specialized training of two years beyond high school and 2 years of related experience, or equivalent. Must possess basic computer skills in a windows environment and be experienced in the safe operation of equipment necessary to complete maintenance activities including; trucks, loaders, backhoes, pressure washers, and other specialized utility equipment.

Must have a valid Minnesota Class D Driver's License and the ability to obtain a Class B CDL with necessary endorsements within six months of hire. Must have or obtain a Class D Water and Class SD Wastewater License within 1 year of hire date.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and smell.

Exposure to disagreeable elements, at least one of which is intense occurs up to 15% of the time. The employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and in outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to wet, humid, hot, or cold conditions. With appropriate safety equipment, the employee may perform duties involving fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud in field settings, and moderately quiet in office settings.

The employee must frequently (up to 70% of the time) lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally (less than 15% of the time) lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The Utility Maintenance Worker is responsible for diverse matters, many of which have deadlines and require attention to detail. Approximately 45 – 70% of the time, work is performed at a moderate level of attention to detail and deadlines.