Public Works Maintenance Worker

## Description

DEPARTMENT: Public Works

JOB LOCATION: North St. Paul

SUPERVISOR: Public Works Director

STATUS: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

REVISED DATE: January 2023

Position Summary

Performs various types of duties related to the operation and maintenance of the City’s streets and other infrastructure, public facilities, community parks, and utilities – water, wastewater, and storm water. Uses equipment necessary to perform tasks in compliance with equipment manuals. Follows all safety procedures related to job and equipment operation.

Introduction

General

• Develops and maintains a thorough working knowledge of all City department policies and procedures in order to help facilitate compliance with such policies and procedures.
• Exhibits respectful and cooperative relationships with co-workers, City management, City Council, general public and City consultants and contractors in an effort to help establish, maintain and enhance North St. Paul’s reputation as a well-managed City.
• Demonstrates, by example, leadership, ingenuity, service excellence and integrity expected from all City staff as defined by our core values and code of conduct.
• Promotes a team environment that encourages open communication and takes ownership in position and organization in a manner that supports the vision and direction of the City and enhances employee satisfaction.
• Serves as an integral part of the Department team.

Essential Areas of Responsibility

Streets

• Performs routine street maintenance, including patching and seal-coating; repairing and replacing curbing; and painting curbing, crosswalks and parking stalls.
• Operates snowplow and other snow removal equipment to clear snow and ice from City streets, city parking lots, sidewalks and trails.
• Installs, repairs and replaces street signs.
• Assists with overall maintenance and appearance of the Downtown Area, including removing of snow and debris from sidewalks and streets; installing, repairing and removing benches and planters; maintaining irrigation systems and landscaped areas on the public right-of-way.

Parks

• Performs maintenance work necessary to enhance the appearance of City parks, trails and other recreational areas and public property, including but not limited to: upkeep of park facilities and amenities, watering of planting beds, landscaping, mowing grass, fertilizer and pesticide

application for weed control, tree and brush trimming, repair and maintenance of irrigation systems and emptying of trash and recycling containers.

• Prepares City athletic fields for use by athletic clubs and organizations and the general public; installs, maintains and removes skating rinks and ensures proper operation of warming houses.
• Inspects and completes routine maintenance of all playground equipment to ensure structures and equipment conform to applicable safety standards; reports defects and unsafe structures and equipment to the Department director.

Forestry

• Trims trees along designated routes using related equipment.
• Performs tree maintenance functions.
• Removes trees and stumps using related equipment.
• Drives a truck hauling forestry debris or supplies, and operates attachments including mechanical loaders and hoists and performs routine truck maintenance.
• Operates tree trimming equipment including aerial trucks, power clams, front-end loaders, brush chippers, stump chippers, ladders, ropes, safety belts, hand saws, power saws, axes and other power equipment used in tree trimming.
• Rakes, chips, and loads branches, leaves, and other debris on a truck.
• Sharpens saws and axes, oils, greases and performs other routine maintenance work on tools and equipment used.
• Plants and transplants trees.

Public Utilities

• Performs trenching inspections for compliance of City and State Codes.
• Ensures proper and efficient function of the City’s storm sewer system through regular inspection and maintenance of City retention ponds and raingardens, catch basins and other drainage structures, including cleaning, repairing, rebuilding, unclogging and de-icing.
• Assists with inspection and maintenance of the City’s water distribution and sanitary sewer collection system, including routine jetting and televising, and inspections and repairs to main lines, and gate valves and curb stops, pumps and motors.
• Checks lift stations and wells ensure satisfactory operation; complete daily log and routine reports for filing and take necessary samples for testing as required.
• Maintains and operates all equipment, including backhoes, pumps, vactors, rodders, wells, lift stations, cutoff saws, trucks, air compressors, and locations equipment.
• Repairs and replaces deteriorating manholes for the water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer systems, and cement manhole inverts on sewer lines.
• Repairs and paints fire hydrants.

Other

• Operates all assigned equipment safely and in accordance with Department policy and practices and manufacturer standards, including hand and power tools, pickup and plow trucks, mowers, tractors and backhoes, trencher and other vehicles and equipment.
• Cleans and inspects equipment before and after use to ensure safe operation; conducts routine preventative maintenance of equipment and reports all equipment failures to the Department director and City mechanic.
• Reports all unsafe working conditions to the Department director and/or City Manager.
• Responds to after hour calls and performs other duties as apparent or assigned.
• Knows and adheres to OSHA guidelines and CDL license requirements.

Additional Experience

• Previous experience in janitorial, painting, carpentry, landscaping, tree trimming, equipment operation, and general public works related skills.
• Ability to operate dump trucks, snow plows, bobcats, lawnmowers, bucket trucks, backhoes, street sweepers, and other types of public works related heavy equipment and vehicles is required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of materials, methods and techniques used to successfully repair and maintain public streets, sidewalks and trails; storm sewer system; sanitary sewer collection system; and a water supply and distribution system.
• Knowledge of general equipment maintenance and repair techniques.
• Knowledge of the practices, procedures, equipment, and materials used in Public Works maintenance and construction work.
• Knowledge of safe operation, maintenance, servicing, and repair of various vehicles, and the ability to operate equipment in a skillful manner.
• Knowledge of pumps and motors to make minor repairs.
• Knowledge of methods, techniques, tools, materials and equipment used in building

construction. • Skill operating mechanical and heavy equipment, including forklifts, skid loaders, air compressors, rotors, dump and plow trucks, sweepers, snowblowers and sanders, chippers, backhoes and front-end loaders, jetters, bucket trucks and lawnmowers.

• Skill to read infrastructure maps and engineering record drawings for the purpose of locating and marking underground utility mains and laterals.
• Skill to communicate with a variety of individuals, including Department colleagues, City staff, elected officials and the general public, and handle a variety of customer service situations.
• Ability to work independently and plan, organize and prioritize work tasks.
• Ability to produce work products with completeness and accuracy, and solve complex problems in a timely manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, citizen commissions, council members, staff from other public agencies, and citizens

Safety

It is the responsibility of all City staff to promote and contribute to a safe work environment. This is accomplished by proactively identifying and correcting the unsafe condition, or notifying the appropriate personnel to address the problem.

All employees shall follow all City and other applicable safety policies and procedures related to the job. Operates all equipment according to proper safety procedures and standards; does not exceed load limits, performance abilities and adheres to all traffic laws.

Schedule

The work week shall consist of 40 hours, Monday through Friday, with the potential for scheduled and unscheduled overtime hours as determined by management. Overtime hours shall include, but not be limited to, evenings, early mornings, weekends and holidays. The workweek may be modified due to a schedule and/or shift change at the discretion of the employer. The employee is expected to be available on call during evenings, weekends and holidays unless absent due to an illness or pre-approved vacation.

Language Skills

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, installation instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write simple correspondence and communicate with fellow employees, and the general public. Ability to understand maps, blueprints, equipment operating instructions and gauges.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Ability to calculate weights, percentages, volumes, and ratios for mixtures. Ability to measure lengths and widths for cutting, fitting, and placement. Ability to understand lengths, widths, diagonals and square roots for laying out ball fields, etc. Ability to understand depths for cutting.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to use and interpret blue prints, schematics, wiring diagrams and technical manuals. Ability to recognize and react in dangerous or unsafe conditions. Recognize and understand safety signs and directions.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here 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 regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and stand; and walk. The employee frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here 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.

While performing duties of this job the employee regularly works in outside in all weather conditions. The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles and vibration. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of electrical shock.

The noise level in the work environment is often loud.

## Qualifications

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must have or obtain required certifications and be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily within four years from the date of hire. Individual must be able to work odd hours, overtime, call backs, long hours, sudden job changes, nights, weekends, or as service needs demand, and respond promptly to after-hours calls for service on a regular basis.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education, Certificates, Licenses and Registrations

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Valid Minnesota Commercial Driver’s License and Class B with Tanker Endorsement
• Valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License or obtain within one year of hire.
• Class C State of Minnesota Water Operators license and Class SC Waste Water Operator license per State guidelines or obtain within five years of hire.