Public Work Person

Job Title:  Public Works Person
Status:  Full-time regular position
Benefits: Qualifies for full-time benefits
Location: Public Works Building
Hours:  Standard business hours (7am-4pm), may vary based on business need
Reporting Relationship: Reports to Public Works Director
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Position Details: Public Works Person engages in street, sewer, water, dike, and building maintenance and construction projects. 

  • Maintain street surfaces: patching, blading, filling including parking lots, alleys, park roads, cemetery roads and gravel roads inside the city limits. 
  • Maintain storm sewers: cleaning, repair, construction and maintenance, including the open ditches. 
  • Responsible for snow and ice removal: plow snow, shovel city sidewalks and at times private sidewalks that don't get cleared. Sand streets and sidewalks as required. 
  • Responsible for sweeping streets and disposing of the materials that are swept up. This usually amounts to over 600 cubic yards per year. Picking the litter off main street sidewalks. Picking up dead animals, glass, boards and other harmful trash that people leave in the streets. 
  • Responsible for sidewalk and curb and gutter repairs.  
  • Unload chemicals at the Water Plant and help with maintenance and repairs. 
  • Unload chemicals at the Disposal Plant and help with maintenance and repairs.
  • Responsible for electrical production: erect and maintain the splash-boards, other maintenance to the dam and reservoir, help with the maintenance of the hydro generators, remove driftwood, logs and other trash that lodges in the reservoir. 
  • Maintenance of the river banks, levee maintenance, cut trees and growth, remove drift materials left by high water and assist with preventative flood control maintenance.  
  • Maintain and repair sanitary sewer main lines, flush and jet main lines, pump sewers at times of excess flows and install sewer taps.  
  • Maintain water distribution: flush the distribution system and fire hydrants, install water taps, install water mains, valves and hydrants, locate and repair water leaks and curb service boxes and exercise control valves. 
  • Assist with maintenance operations of Kilowatt Community Center if requested.
  • Maintain parks and airport.
  • Maintain cemetery road, fill, blade and mow. 
  • Responsible for weed eradication: operate the tractor-mower, weed whip, small mowers, cut thistles and brush, mow and clean up vacant lots within the city and spray herbicides for some control areas. 
  • Maintain recreation/playground/rinks courts and surrounding buildings, structures, fences and equipment. 

While these areas are the primary focus of the position, we believe strongly in teamwork and employees will be called upon to perform a variety of duties as a part of their role with the City.

Position Requirements

Education: High School Diploma or GED
Requirements: Must have Commercial Driver’s License, Class B with tanker and air brake endorsements or ability to get.
Work Experience: 1 years of work experience in related fields: public works, carpentry or masonry trades.
Physical and Mental Requirements:  Occasionally exertion of force in excess of 50 and/or up to 100 pounds to move objects or equipment accessories is required.  Must be able to exert 20-50 pounds of force frequently to move objects. Must be able to climb ladders in excess of 120 feet and descend into and work inside confined spaces.

The physical demands here are representative to those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Working Conditions:  Most work is performed in a field environment involving working inside and outside of vehicles and in confined spaces. Seasonal conditions can include excessive heat or cold. Conditions can include working in wet, muddy, slippery, sunny, or dusty and windy conditions. At these times there may be intermittent exposure to very disagreeable working conditions. 

The working conditions here are representative to those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.