Meter Technician

Under the immediate supervision of the Division Supervisor and the general supervision of the Utilities Field Superintendent, performs semi-skilled and skilled labor in the maintenance of the water system meter and customer account activities. May be assigned to any division within the Public Utilities Department as a substitute for individuals on vacation, sick leave, etc., or during heavy workload periods. This position is subject to emergency callouts and must be able to work both scheduled and unscheduled overtime, including nights, weekends and stand‑by, as required.

Position will be filled as a Technician I, Technician II or Technician III, dependent upon the needs of the department and qualifications/experience of the preferred candidate.

Essential Functions

Technician I (entry level)

• Performs water meter services (i.e., meter installation and removal, meter remote installations, inspections, shut offs, move‑ins and outs).
• Performs water meter readings per meter route schedules and utility office direction (i.e., non‑reporting meters).
• Performs general maintenance duties such as infrastructure OUPS locates, leak detection exercises, fire hydrant maintenance, asphalt and concrete surface restoration, and vehicle maintenance as instructed.
• Operates dump trucks, pickup trucks and other related small equipment.
• Responds to customer service requests as directed by division supervisor.
• Performs installation, maintenance, inspection and repair work on water system meter and customer account activities.
• Competently assists in the maintenance, repair and construction of water lines and their accessories (i.e., valves, hydrants, meters).
• Skillfully operates a variety of equipment, machinery and tools used in department projects and activities on a regular basis, which may include and is not limited to skid steers (including attachments), backhoe, grader, front‑end loader, rollers, compaction equipment (jumping jack, vibratory plate), dump truck and hydraulic sewer cleaning machine.
• Performs technical duties locating and marking underground city utilities using a variety of utility maps, as‑built plans, blueprints, sketches, construction plans, GIS systems and other computer mapping systems as needed with reasonable self‑reliance.
• Notifies residents and businesses of work being performed; responds to questions or complaints, or request for service, initiates problem resolution.
• Responsible for the repair and testing of existing multi‑family, commercial and industrial water meters.

Technician III (advanced technician)

• Able to perform all essential functions of Technician I and Technician II at a highly skilled and unsupervised level, at the discretion of division supervisor and the field services superintendent.

Knowledge

Technician I (entry level)

• Knowledge of basic math (ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers).
• Knowledge of geography, city streets and business locations.
• Basic knowledge of methods, materials and common practices in water meter installations and service activities.
• Knowledge of basic equipment and tool operation including maintenance practices.
• Working knowledge of the mechanical operation, performance and maintenance of trucks and similar automotive equipment, and skill in the operation of such vehicles.
• Knowledge of traffic laws and rules involved in vehicle operation.
• Knowledge of electronic handheld or mobile devices and job‑related software.
• General knowledge of safe work practices and identifying hazards.
• Knowledge of utility locating equipment.

Technician II (proficient technician)

In addition to the items above with knowledge at a competent level in those areas:

• Knowledge of hazards, safety rules and precautions involving backflow equipment and regulations to ensure water system integrity and health.
• Knowledge of maintenance of traffic rules, regulations and procedures.

Technician III (advanced technician)

In addition to the items above with knowledge at an advanced level in those areas:

• Knowledge of the methods, materials, procedures, and standard practices of:
  • Utility construction, maintenance and repair, including municipal utility systems and their accessories, water service lines and water meters, and cross connection controls and backflow prevention devices.

Skills

Technician I (entry level)

• Skilled in the operation of equipment necessary to carry out Meter Service responsibilities.
• Skilled in the methods utilized to carry out maintenance and repairs of the system meter installations.
• Skilled in operating meter installation software.
• Skilled in customer service techniques as this position regularly interacts with water utility customers on a regular basis.

Technician II (proficient technician)

In addition to the items above with skill at a competent level in those areas:

• Skilled in the use of job‑related software and associated technologies.

Technician III (advanced technician)

In addition to the items above with skill at an advanced level in those areas:

• Skilled in Mueller network management software.

Abilities

Technician I (entry level)

• General mechanical aptitude and mental ability to perform manual tasks without supervision.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to read maps, diagrams and technical operational manuals.
• Ability to communicate effectively and courteously with the public and other employees.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the general public.
• Ability to perform relatively heavy manual work for extended periods of time and the ability to withstand exposure to variable weather conditions.
• Ability to operate equipment, vehicles and power‑driven hand tools as required.
• Ability to operate mobile devices used in taking meter readings and to ensure accuracy of readings.
• Ability to operate a personal computer and related software and to demonstrate proficiency in completing work orders, reports, time sheets etc.
• Ability to prepare reports, including work orders, activity reports and maintenance logs.

Technician II (proficient technician)

In addition to the items above with abilities at a competent level in those areas:

• Ability to work in confined spaces and at elevated heights.
• Ability to comprehend and follow simple to complex oral and written instructions with little supervision and the ability to effectively communicate instructions to other technical staff.

Technician III (advanced technician)

In addition to the items above with abilities at an advanced level in those areas:

• Ability to understand basic road maps and city boundaries to establish ownership responsibilities.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve equipment problems.
• Ability to understand and interpret technical specifications and operation manuals for vehicles and equipment.
• Ability to establish project priorities, estimate material quantity, staffing and equipment resources required for timely completion of work assignments.
• Ability to train employees in the safe and efficient use of all motor vehicles and related equipment required for completion of work assignments.