Utilities Maintenance Worker I

Job Title

Performs construction and maintenance work associated with the installation, repair and maintenance of the city water and wastewater pipelines, mains, valves, meters, hydrants, and manholes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Skillfully operates and performs maintenance on variety of equipment and power tools to install, repair, and maintain the city water supply and sewer lines.

Loads and unloads construction materials such as pipes, concrete, and waste.

Digs holes, installs, or repairs lines, tests, and clears blockage in lines, and returns the repair or construction site to original condition and saw cuts streets manually and with various equipment including hand, power, and motor operated machinery.

Changes out meters, tests hydrants, delivers materials, repairs valves and hydrants, reads water meters as required.

Assists the Maintenance Worker II with inspection, troubleshooting and repairs of water and sewer lines or related items.

Responds to emergency calls from citizens, etc. on water and sewer line leaks and repairs.

Primarily utilizes small power and hand tools such drills, shovels, rakes, and picks. Occasionally operates, dump trucks, dirt compactors, jack hammers, and street concrete saws.

Always ensures adherence to safety procedures and proper use of safety equipment

Performs traffic control set up at the job site to ensure a safe working environment, places and gathers cones, flags, set out traffic signs, etc.

Responds to emergency calls from residents and businesses during and after normal operating hours, weekends, and holidays.

Punctuality and regular attendance are essential functions of this position.

May perform other assignments and assist with special projects as required.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Works under direct supervision of Utility Supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications

High School Diploma or G.E.D. One (1) year of experience in the installation, maintenance, and repair of water and wastewater systems, preferred. Must possess a Texas Driver's License.

Required certifications include Class A Commercial Driver's License with tanker endorsement required within six (6) months of employment. Work zone Traffic Control & Qualified Flagger preferred, must obtain within one (1) year in position. Water Distribution D License, Class I Wastewater Collections License preferred, must obtain within three (3) years in position. Must obtain Water Distribution C License, Class 2 Wastewater Collections License with five (5) years in position.

To be considered for employment in this position applicants must comply with Department of Transportation Federal Regulations and the City of Watauga Drug Policy.

Any work-related experience resulting in acceptable proficiency levels in the above Minimum Qualifications is an acceptable substitute for the above specified education and experience requirements.

Work Environment

Continuous outdoor and indoor activity, frequent sitting, standing, walking, squatting, bending, twisting upper body, climbing, exposure to extreme heat, cold, noise, mechanical hazards, fume/odor hazards, toxic waste/material hazards, occasional kneeling, crawling, carrying up to 100 pounds, lifting to 100 pounds. Outside construction and machinery activities performed under normal field operations. Exposed to seasonal temperatures while operating and maintaining heavy construction equipment. Possibility of exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals, materials, and inclement weather while in the field.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodation, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

Knowledge of the Texas laws and regulations relating to the operation of motorized equipment on public streets and highways.

Knowledge of Federal, State and Local laws relating to water and wastewater distribution and collection.

Knowledge in the use of standard hand tools, operation of light power-driven equipment, trucks, and other vehicles.

Knowledge of City practice, policy, and procedures.

Knowledge of safety practices and procedures.

Skill in handling multiple tasks, planning and prioritizing.

Skill in providing excellent customer service.

Ability to quickly learn and retain how to use all required tools, equipment, and vehicles in a safe and efficient manner.

Ability to clearly communicate and understand information both orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with other employees, departments, and the public, and exhibit a positive attitude.

Ability to regularly attend work and arrive punctually for designated work schedule.

Ability to be on the yearly on- call schedule

Ability to respond to after-hours emergencies, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Ability to work in extreme weather conditions.

Benefits

The City of Watauga offers a variety of employment benefits to all regular full time employees.

Salary ranges are designed to be competitive with area industries and municipalities.

Regular full-time employee's tax-deferred contribution into the pension fund is 7% of gross wages. The City matches this contribution on a 2 to 1 ratio. Vested after 5 years. Employees are eligible to retire with 20 years of service.

Employees are required to contribute 1.45% of their pay for Medicare insurance.

Full-time employees who have been employed for one (1) year are eligible to receive longevity pay. Eligible employees will receive twelve dollars ($12) for each month they have been employed, and this is distributed as a lump sum in the month of December.

The city will reimburse eligible employees for a portion of the cost of tuition. Conditions and restrictions do apply.

Employees begin accruing vacation leave when hired but are unable to use it until after successfully completing their 6 month probationary period. Full-time Employee's vacation leave accrual rates are based on length of service.

Sick leave is accrued at 10 hours per month for a total of 120 hours per year for regular Full time employees

All regular full-time employees are eligible for medical, dental and vision insurance. Family coverage is available by payroll deductions at reduced group rates. Retirees are also eligible for coverage.

The City of Watauga offers Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to employees who have elected a High Deductible Health Plan. Employees can deposit money to their HSA through payroll deductions on an income tax free basis. Employees own their HSA and the money can roll over every year if not used. The account is theirs and they will keep it even if they leave the City. Employees will be issued a debit MasterCard, which can be used to pay for medical expenses, prescriptions and other qualifying items

The City presently has a group life insurance program under which regular full-time City employees are eligible for a minimum of $20,000 or 1X the annual salary to a maximum of $100,000 at no cost to them. Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance is also provided at no cost to regular full-time employees for the same coverage.

Voluntary Term Life Insurance is available in increments of $10,000 to a maximum of $300,000. Coverage is available for spouses under age 70 in increments of $5,000 to $150,000 not to exceed 50% of your amount. Children of covered employees can have $10,000. This coverage is guaranteed at the initial offering up to $150,000 for employees under age 60, $30,000 for spouses under age 60 and $10,000 for children. If you apply at a later date or for amounts over the Guaranteed Issue you need to complete a medical questionnaire and could be declined for coverage. Cost will depend on the employee's and spouse's age and coverage amount. You also have the option to add AD&D coverage to your Life Insurance. AD&D coverage to employee and spouse voluntary life insurance. The amount must match the amount of supplemental life insurance. (Cost $0.03 per thousand)

All regular full-time employees have long term disability coverage, which is provided at the City's expense. The long-term disability plan provides financial protection for regular full-time employees by paying a portion of the employee's income (up to 50% of monthly earnings to a maximum benefit of $5,000 per month).