Public Works Worker - Parks

Are you looking for a job that isn’t tied to a desk where you can enjoy the outdoors year round?  Would you like to see how your efforts affect the quality of life of an entire community?

NATURE OF WORK
Under the supervision of the Public Works Operations Manager, is responsible for performing maintenance work of average difficulty in the multifaceted Public Works Department.  Public Works Workers will work in all Public Works Divisions: Streets, Parks, and Utilities. 

ASSIGNED DIVISION
Public Works Workers will work in all Public Works Divisions: Street, Park, and Utilities. The initial assignment for this position will be to the Parks Maintenance Division. 

SCHEDULE
7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Ability to work extended hours, weekends, holidays, and respond to calls during non-working hours as required.  Response time required for call backs is within 45 minutes.

Tentative first round interviews will be the week of 12/29.

Park Maintenance

• Performs grounds, turf, and planting bed maintenance, lays sod, seeds, fertilizes, mows, aerates City property.
• Constructs, floods, shovels snow, sweeps and maintains skating rinks and cares for warming houses.
• Lays out, constructs, maintains and stripes athletic fields and courts.
• Maintains recreational buildings using general carpentry and janitorial skills.
• Performs manual labor as required, for example, installing, removing and repairing fencing, moving picnic tables, bleachers, dump barrels and light poles.
• Installs, inspects and maintains playground equipment and irrigation systems.
• Assists in mixing and applying chemicals and other agents for proper care of vegetation, in accordance with State regulations.
• Plows, sands, salts and cuts ice from streets, parking lots, sidewalks and alleys.
• Assists in vehicle and equipment maintenance.
• Performs public contact work relating to complaints.

Street/Forestry Maintenance

• Installs, repairs and maintains streets, parking lots and sidewalks using heavy and light equipment and hand tools.
• Prepares site, grades, places and compacts fill and base materials and bituminous service materials.
• Performs snow/ice removal from streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and trails using heavy and light equipment
• Performs general tree maintenance such as planting, trimming, stump removal, and removal of diseased trees on public property
• Installs, repairs and maintains traffic signs, signals and streetlights.
• Installs traffic pavement markings including crosswalk, parking lot, and traffic lane striping. 
• Places, pours and finishes concrete service materials.
• Sweeps and washes streets, parking lots, curbs and sidewalks.
• Conducts chemical tree injections and documents work performed
• Works cooperatively and respectively with other departments and public as needed to complete assigned tasks.
• Assists staff with tree, plant, and insect identification
• Assists in vehicle and equipment maintenance.
• Purchases routine equipment and supplies and obtains proper approval for purchases
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Utilities

• Assists in the excavation, repair or replacement of water and sewer mains, and responds to water and sewer breaks or complaints during and after normal business hours.  Performs inspections and repairs to a wide variety of valves and curb stops.
• Maintains and repairs fire hydrants including winterizing, flushing, replacing, repairing, cleaning and painting.
• Performs general maintenance, troubleshooting and repair on wells including pumps, motors and control panels.
• Installs water meters on new/existing structures; cleans and repairs water meters including replacing parts; performs water meter readings.
• Maintains daily records of distribution system and collection systems.  Performs water, sewer, and storm water connection and disconnection inspections.  Completes drawings and recordings to ensure contractors perform all work in compliance with City ordinances and codes.
• Inspects, troubleshoots, maintains and monitors sanitary/storm lift stations for proper operation of controls, motors, and pumps; cleans lift stations including entering confined spaces such as wet wells and manholes; inspects, cleans and changes oil on motors; maintains control panels and valves; performs recordkeeping for equipment including repairs to ensure proper operation.
• Operates lift stations under emergency conditions during inclement weather.   Hooks up emergency power equipment for facilities during storm events.
• Inspects, repairs, replaces and occasionally installs sewer lines; uses jetter to clean the lines annually.  Operates vacuum equipment to perform additional cleaning of sewer system.   Performs manhole structure maintenance/rebuilding.  
• Operates sanitary sewer televising equipment and its computer software.
• Performs general maintenance to towers, well houses, and buildings, including inspecting paint, painting and changing light bulbs, and all general house cleaning duties.
• Performs air tests on sewer and water lines; responds to sewer backup complaints during and after regular work-day hours.
• Responds to billing complaints, high usage complaints and operational questions from consumers, or refers to appropriate person.  Frequent customer contact including the entering of public and private places routinely.
• Operates and maintains department vehicles and equipment including pick-ups, backhoe, skid steer, front end loader, dump trucks, jackhammer, air compressor, jet truck, road saw, etc. and all other equipment as required.
• Purchases routine equipment and supplies.  Obtains appropriate approvals for routine and non-routine items.
• Performs Gopher State One Call locate requests.

COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrates working knowledge of general building and grounds construction and maintenance work, tools, and equipment
• Demonstrates knowledge of types and methods of planting and maintaining trees and ornamental plantings
• Demonstrates knowledge of the repair and maintenance requirements of the water distribution, wastewater and storm water collection systems.
• Demonstrates knowledge of traffic laws as applied to safely operating department vehicles and equipment.
• Demonstrates ability to perform building maintenance including painting and basic carpentry, plumbing; maintain lawns and grounds including mowing and trimming.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate effectively by telephone, or in-person with other City employees, and the general public.
• Demonstrates ability to write simple correspondence with the ability to effectively present information to supervisors, subordinates, government agencies, contractors, and the general public.
• Demonstrates ability to operate heavy and light equipment and hand tools.
• Demonstrates ability to recognize and use proper safety equipment when performing maintenance duties.
• Demonstrates ability to maintain effective working relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrates ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrates ability to perform mathematical calculations.
• Demonstrates ability to attend work punctually and regularly.
• Demonstrates ability to perform and assist other City departments with operations and duties as required.
• Demonstrates ability to understand and respect the diversity of customers and co-workers, effectively communicating with individuals whose first language may be one other than English.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma or General Education Development Certificate (GED).

• Must possess a valid Class D driver’s license or equivalent.  
• Ability to obtain a Class A Driver’s License within two years of hire
• Ability to obtain a MN Pesticide Applicator’s License within one year of hire.  

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE

• Must possess a valid Class D driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving record. 
• Minnesota Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with tanker and air brake endorsement or be able to obtain within 2 years year of hire

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from relevant vocational/technical training helpful.  
• At least two years of recent year-round experience in maintenance of ornamental/native planting areas. 
• At least two years of carpentry experience 
• Experience in the operation of heavy and light equipment, snowplowing, concrete maintenance/repair  
• Possession of valid Class A or B Drivers’ License
• Certified Playground Safety Inspector Certification 
• Bilingual 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands that are described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.  

Must have the ability to: 

• Ability to work outside year round and during extreme weather conditions.
• Ability to perform physical labor requiring continual and repetitive use of large motor skills to stand, walk, sit, bend, stoop, crawl, crouch, push and pull, twist and turn, and conditional and repetitive use of fine motor skills and manual dexterity.
• Ability to operate heavy and light equipment to remove snow.  Ability to see and use depth perception when plowing streets and have good night vision when plowing or sweeping at night or other non-daylight hours.
• Ability to hear, see, taste, touch, and smell.  Specific vision abilities required of this position include close vision, distant vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors and different shades of color.
• Ability to frequently bend, lift and, carry objects weighing up to 75 pounds, occasionally lift objects over 100 pounds when lifting motors or pumps, and to wear and use all safety equipment.
• Ability to use personal protective equipment to safely work with and around hazardous chemicals, strong fumes, electric shock and infectious disease.
• Ability to work around noise and vibration generated from equipment and machinery.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts.  The employee occasionally works in high precarious places and confined spaces.  The employee is occasionally exposed to extreme hot and cold as well as other types of inclement weather conditions, fumes or airborne particles, and work with exposure to loud noises from operating equipment.  The employee will be required to wear personal protective equipment under appropriate circumstances.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL/EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER/MFD

 

The City of Richfield is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee, job applicant, or contractor on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, marital status, genetics, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, familial status, or membership on a local human rights commission.

 

This statement applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Salary : $30 - $38