Maintenance Operator

Job TitleThis classification involves spraying and removing vegetation and other litter from City canals and ditches.An employee in this position handles required chemical and herbicides following safety guidelines; sprays and removes weeds, noxious water vegetation, litters, and dead animals; and operates boats, harvesting equipment, pumps, and other related equipment. This position also maintains records/inventory and orders replenishing of supplies.Essential Job FunctionsSprays and removes weeds, hyacinths, and other noxious water vegetation from canals, ditches, and canal banks.Operates spray boat and other equipment used in the controlling of aquatic weeds.Operates harvesting equipment used in the controlling of aquatic weeds.Prepares and maintains reports of activities and crew operations; maintains records of equipment and chemicals used.Contacts property owner and other persons in reference to spraying and treating noxious aquatic plant life.Conducts on-the-job training of new employees assigned to spray crew; instructs in the use of spray equipment and the proper handling of chemicals.Removes litter, dead animals, materials, and debris from canal heads, culverts, and catch basins.Helps operators to locate and clean drains throughout the City.Helps cut trees on the canal banks.Maintains inventory of chemicals used.Maintains records of vehicle and spray equipment maintenance.Keeps logs on daily chemical usage; and orders more as needed.Assists pump station mechanic with pump station maintenance as needed.Performs related work as required.Education and ExperienceHigh school or vocational school diploma or GED.Basic work experience in the operation of pumps, motors, or spray equipment in the application of herbicides and canal maintenance operations.License required: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Category 5A (Aquatic). (Or obtain with six months of hire).Certification preferred: FSA Stormwater Operator - Level 1.License Preferred: FDACS – Category 6 (Right-of-Way Pest control)Must possess a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.Must obtain a valid Florida driver's license prior to hire.Physical DemandsMust have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through personal contact, the use of the telephone and/or other City-issued technology devices.Physical capability to effectively use and operate City assigned motorized vehicles, manual or power tools.Ability to climb, balance, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, push and/or pull, twist and make repetitive hand movements.Ability to walk, stand and sit for prolonged periods of time.Ability to work outdoors under varying temperatures, inclement weather and/or other adverse conditions.Ability to load, carry, lift, push and/or pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.Ability to climb and descend stairways and ship ladders at unusual heights of up to 40 feet.Ability to hear within normal audio range, with or without correction.Ability to see in the normal visual range with or without correction. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.Ability to withstand exposure to the following conditions without stress: excessive noise, unpleasant odors, chemicals/other environmental substances, blood borne pathogens.Perform work at locations with exposure over, in and around water, which may not be accessible to the physically handicapped.Must have the ability to swimBenefitsCity-Paid Medical Benefits:Group Health Insurance: The City pays for 100% of the cost for single coverage for full-time employees and 66.66% of cost for Dependent/Family Coverage. Upon retirement and separation from City employment, employee receives a monthly stipend of $350 per month, applicable toward retiree health coverage.Life Insurance: $30,000Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D): $10,000Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Cigna BehavioralRetirement:Employee Contribution = 8%Vesting = 10 YearsNormal Retirement Benefit = 2.5% of pensionable earnings for each year of creditable serviceAverage Final Compensation (AFC) = 3 best consecutive earning yearsMaximum Benefit = 80% of AFC, not to exceed $80,000.Normal Retirement = Age 62 and ten (10) years of creditable serviceEarly Retirement = Age 57 and ten (10) years of creditable service, 3% annual reduction for each year prior to normal retirement age13th check based on monthly retirement, payable if the pension plan funding status is equal to or greater than 100%. Paid in December each year following retirementDeferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) = 4 years/48 months maximumDROP Interest Rate = 4%, compounded annuallyLongevity: Based on successful completion of full-time, continuous service with the City, employee shall receive the following:Years of Creditable Service Longevity Benefit*10 Years 2.5%15 Years 2.5%20 Years 5.0%* Longevity Benefit calculated on employee's base rate of payPaid Holidays: Employees receive the following City-paid holidays:New Year's DayMartin Luther King DayMemorial DayJuneteenth4th of July, Independence DayLabor DayVeterans' DayThanksgiving DayFriday after ThanksgivingChristmas DayAnnual Leave: Annual leave may be taken as earned after completion of (90) calendar days. Maximum accumulation each fiscal year is 290 hours. At time of resignation or retirement, employee is paid for all annual leave accrued at their current rate of pay. Annual leave is accrued based on continuous, full-time service with the City, as follows:Completed Months of Service Total Hours Accrued AnnuallyUp to and including first 60 months 96 hours/12 DaysGreater than 60 months through 120 months 136 hours/17 DaysGreater than 120 months through 204 months 176 hours/22 DaysGreater than 204 months 216 hours/27 DaysAnnual Leave Cash Out: Employee can opt to receive a non-pensionable cash payment twice per year for up to forty (40) hours of annual leave, provided accrued annual leave bank does not fall below eighty (80) hours.Floating Holidays: Upon completion of (26) weeks of full-time employment with the City, employee shall be entitled to utilize up to five (5) floating holidays per fiscal year. Floating holidays shall not carry over to the next fiscal year.Perfect Attendance: For every six (6) months period (April 1 - September 30) and (October 1 - March 31) in which, no sick or unpaid leave is utilized, an employee shall receive ten (10) hours of annual leave credited. Employees who qualify for a consecutive Perfect Attendance benefit shall receive fourteen (14) hours of annual leave credited for each applicable consecutive earning period.Sick Leave: Each employee earns (96) hours (12 days) of sick leave annually with no waiting period for use and unlimited accrual. Upon separation of City employment due to resignation, employee shall receive payment of all accrued sick leave at a rate of twenty City of Sunrise