Public Works Operator I

 GENERAL
PURPOSE

Works
under the general supervision of the Operations Superintendent or Crew Leader
performing a variety of entry level skilled duties in the
operation of heavy and light equipment in the construction, repair,
maintenance, and replacement of various components of the city public works
systems, including water distribution, sewer collection and streets. Works
under the general supervision of the Wastewater Operations Superintendent while
performing wastewater treatment functions.

ESSENTIAL
FUNCTIONS

Water
Distribution:
operates a variety of equipment in the construction, operation, repair,
maintenance, and replacement of City water and storm drainage facilities and
systems; performs installation or repair of water service connections, repairs
or replaces fire hydrants and plugged water meters; meter cans, meter valves,
etc.; repairs water mains and water boxes; thaws frozen lines; connects
service; searches out shut off valves; repairs water line leaks; assists in
placement of pipe and water regulators; removes, disassembles, cleans or
replaces defective parts of regulators, adjusts PRV’s as needed to assure
efficient water line service

Wastewater
System:
operates a variety of equipment in the construction, operation, repair,
maintenance, and replacement of city wastewater collection system to control
flow and operates jet-rodder equipment to clear and maintain sewer lines.

Wastewater
Treatment: Checks and
assures that all stages of the wastewater treatment processes are maintained in
working condition; periodically checks pumps, flow, mechanical, chemical
processes and pump stations; monitors plant control panels and operation
processes including raw sewage pumps, station alarms, clarifiers, aeration
basins, digesters, chlorine building, sludge pump building, sludge dewatering
equipment and backup generator; inspects plant head works such as automatic and
manual bar screens, grit collection systems; observes operations to assure
proper processing of influent waste and effluent water; checks chlorination
equipment and maintains proper flow of chlorine into contact chambers; flushes
chambers periodically.

Operates
valves and pumps necessary to transfer sludge to digesters; monitors valves,
pumps, gauges, levels, temperatures, pressures, and processes; records daily readings
on various charts; prepares and sets up valves for transfer pumps, grease
removal equipment; Records daily readings and analyzes findings; checks sludge
lines and pumps for plugging; cleans pumps as needed; sets sludge pump programs
as needed to meet changing sludge conditions; takes laboratory samples from
various stages of treatment process; calibrates gauges, meters and measuring
devices.

Performs
general equipment maintenance and cleaning; cleans sludge pumps and valves,
removes sticks and other obstructions; removes debris clogging grease troughs,
effluent screens. Operates back-flow pumps as needed to clear lines; operates
high pressure cleaning equipment, etc.

Streets: Operates
specialized heavy equipment such as single & tandem axle dump trucks,
dozers, front-end loaders, backhoe, snow plow and other similar equipment in
the construction, maintenance and repair of various street department projects
and sites and drainage inverts; transports and deposits various construction
materials such as sand, gravel, dirt, etc.; performs hot mix patching, storm
drain cleaning, repair and construction, snow and ice control, gravel street
maintenance, cold mix patching, debris collection. Performs general maintenance
functions performs installation and maintenance of city street signs;
constructs and maintains manholes; prepares proper barricading for streets,
water and related public works projects; performs traffic control at road
construction.

Performs
related duties as required.

MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS

1.
Education and Experience:

A. Graduation from high school or GED; AND

B. One (1) year of responsible experience in a field
directly related to above duties; OR

C. An equivalent combination of education and
experience.

2. Knowledge,
Skills and Abilities:

Some
knowledge of machinery,
materials, and methods of constructing roads, drainage systems, culverts, etc.;
safety standards related to road construction; hazards common to heavy
equipment operation; equipment maintenance and repair; the standard practices,
methods, materials and tools necessary for water and sewer line construction
and repair activities; pipe fitting procedures, pipe classifications and type;
the occupational hazards and safety precautions of trench work construction and
pipeline maintenance work; water supply and distribution systems; construction
requirements for water distribution and pumping systems; hazards associated
with water treatment chemicals; sewer

line
chemical cleaning procedures and associated hazards; sewer pipe installation
and repair (clay & PVC); cross

connection
control methods and standards; basic civil engineering; State or Federal
regulations governing installation and maintenance of water systems; street
surfacing methods and practices.

Some
skill in the
operation of heavy mechanized equipment as required by the position; i.e., dump
truck with snow plow, water truck, dozer, bucket truck, street roller, backhoe,
forklift, compressor, saws, tamper, saws, pumps, sanders, generators, common
hand and power tools, shovels, mechanic tools, loader, scraper.

Ability
to tolerate
weather extremes in the work place; operate heavy equipment of various kinds
under varying conditions; make minor repairs on assigned vehicles, perform
heavy physical labor; develop and maintain effective working relationships with
co-workers, elected officials, local agencies and the general public;
communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

3.
Special Qualifications:

Class
B Commercial Driver’s License may be required. Must be willing to work on-call
24/7. May be required to obtain level I certification in wastewater collections
and water distribution within one year of hire. Will participate in required
DOT safety sensitive random drug testing program.

4. Work
Environment:

Tasks require
variety of physical activities, and generally involve muscular strain, related
to walking, standing, stooping, sitting, and reaching. Daily exposure to
hazardous conditions such as: working on high ladders and in manholes; daily
potential for hazardous exposure to methane, hydrogen sulfide, and chlorine
gases; daily potential for hazardous exposure to oxygen deficient atmosphere;
daily exposure to seasonal changes and weather extremes; daily potential for
hazardous exposure to electrical shock, industrial wastes and raw sewage
(containing pathogens such as typhoid, paratyphoid, dysentery, polio, tetanus,
etc.); daily exposure to moving parts and equipment such as pumps, motors,
heavy equipment, etc.; daily exposure to stressful environmental conditions
such as dust, fumes, dampness, cold, heat, and noise. Essential functions
require talking, hearing and seeing. Common eye, hand, finger dexterity exist.
Mental application utilizes memory for details, verbal instructions, emotional
stability, discriminating thinking and creative problem solving. Periodic
travel required in normal course of job performance.

*****

Disclaimer: The above statements describe the general
nature, level, and type of work performed by the incumbent(s)
assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list
of all responsibilities, demands, and skills required of personnel so
classified. Job descriptions are not intended to and do not imply or create any
employment, compensation, or contract rights to any person or persons.
Management reserves the right to add, delete, or modify any and/or all
provisions of this description at any time as needed without notice. This job
description supersedes earlier versions.