UTILITY TECHNICIAN

Utility Technician

The Utility technician is responsible for the operation and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure of county water and wastewater benefit districts, as well as making calculations, interpreting design plans and technical literature, and having mechanical ability. Work assignments are varied and broad in scope which requires highly detailed and technical independent decision-making skills.

Work is reviewed by the Assistant Public Works Director through consultations and field inspections to determine progress and adherence to departmental policies and state regulations. Major projects are reviewed by the Engineer, Assistant Engineer or the Operations Manager before action is taken.

Essential Functions:

• Complete all daily inspection associated with County Benefit Districts, following safety protocol, including pump stations, lift stations, treatment lagoons and sewer treatment plant.
• Maintain and clean lift stations, floats, open pits using tools and equipment to make appropriate adjustments and repairs when needed.
• Respond to alarm systems on equipment.
• Conduct State required tests at sewage treatment plants and lagoons as required.
• Read meters monthly, collect water samples and tests daily including weekends and holidays, and exercise water valves annually.
• Ensure duties are carried out in accordance with County and Departmental policies and guidelines.
• Ensure time management on projects is sufficient.
• Provide for regular and punctual attendance and fosters a cooperative work environment.
• Maintain project lists and organize work by priority and location.
• Repair or initiate repair of equipment, pumps, motors at sites, water and wastewater infrastructure.
• Periodically inspect equipment assigned to ensure units are clean and maintenance is being performed adequately.
• Maintain area around pump stations, lift stations and sewage treatment plants and lagoons by mowing, weeding, removing snow and collecting trash and debris.
• Create, set up, and maintain files for maintenance and repair schedules, testing results and meter readings.
• Perform utility locates of County owned Benefit districts infrastructure.
• Assist the director in the permitting and inspection of any utility installations in county road right-of-ways and easements.

Secondary Functions:

• Assist Engineering Technicians with project inspection and testing as needed.
• Maintain a clean work area.
• Attends conferences and trainings to maintain certifications.
• Document and track utility locations, coordinate map information with the geographic information system network.
• Create survey forms, inventory forms, graphs, tables, and other illustrative material for collecting data, creating reports, and making presentations to the County Commission, the news media and the general public.
• Participate in staff meetings, safety meetings and other related activities.
• Requires frequent overtime outside normal work hours which may include weekends and holidays.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience, education and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities listed below will be accepted.

• This position requires the employee to provide and carry a personal cell phone and will be reimbursed as per the County's Cell Phone Policy. The cell phone is to be utilized to carry out county related functions in accordance with Departmental Policies and Procedures.

Education:

• Graduation from high school or equivalent required.
• Advanced technical training preferred.
• A valid Class C Driver's License is required.
• Class 1 water certificate required within 2 years. Class 1 wastewater certificate required within 1 years.
• Confined space certification preferred.

Experience:

• 1-3 years' experience with operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems.
• 2 years of computer experience, including Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of materials, methods, techniques and practices of water and wastewater systems.
• Knowledge of the principles and practice applied in the inspection and testing of materials used in the construction of civil engineering projects.
• Knowledge of electrical and plumbing preferred.
• Knowledge of the applicable work safety rules and procedures.

Skills:

• Good organizational, interpersonal and communication skills are required.
• Ability to follow oral and written instruction.
• Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, orally and written.
• Ability to work independently with little or no supervision.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with employees, supervisors, other government agency officials, and the public.
• Ability to assist with engineering inspection work.
• Ability to utilize testing equipment associated with water and wastewater sampling.
• Ability to read and explain engineering plans and drawings and to assist with the design of basic road, bridge and utility construction and maintenance projects.
• Ability to maintain records, prepare basic reports, and record data and inventories accurately.
• Ability to research prices and make economical decisions regarding the selection and purchase of materials and equipment.
• Ability to organize facts and present them in a clear and concise verbal, written, or graphic form.
• Ability to make mathematical computations with efficiency and accuracy.