Highway Maintenance Worker (Public Works)

Walworth County, WI; Elkhorn (WI); On-site; USD 71,864,000 - 92,256,000; Full time

Job summary

Walworth County, WI is seeking a full-time highway maintenance worker to keep roads safe and passable on assigned routes in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. The role includes operating heavy equipment, performing maintenance on county infrastructure, and supporting snow removal operations during winter months.

The position requires a high school diploma or equivalent and 2–3 years of related experience, with opportunities to work overtime and on-call during winter schedules.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with 2–3 years of related experience.
• Ability to perform basic math and geometry calculations.
• Experience operating heavy equipment such as trucks, dozers and graders (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Remove snow and de-ice highways.
• Maintain federal interstates, state highways and county roads.
• Operate equipment including forklifts, wheel loaders, rollers and other equipment.
• Seasonal road maintenance tasks and long hours as needed.
• Report road issues and maintain safety compliance.

Skills

Operate heavy equipment

Drive trucks

Road maintenance knowledge

Safety awareness

Read & follow instructions

Basic computer skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Salary

$25.08 - $32.21 Hourly

Location

Elkhorn, WI

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

2026-00105

Department

Public Works

Division

Highway

Opening Date

09/10/2026

Closing Date

9/23/2026 11:59 PM Central

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Position Summary

This position is responsible for maintaining safe travel conditions on assigned highways and maintaining the equipment used. This position also performs maintenance on County equipment, buildings and grounds, including parks while meeting departmental safety policies and procedures.

SCHEDULE

• Division: Highway Operations
• Days: Monday - Friday
• Work Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Hours Per Shift: 8
• Shifts Per Pay Period: 10
• Position FTE: 1.00 full-time hourly non-exempt

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Remove snow and de-ice assigned highways.
• Maintain federal interstates, state highways and county roads.
• Install and remove snow fencing.
• Mark curbs and culverts.
• Patrol for down or missing signs.
• Chip seal and crack fill roads.
• Patch holes in pavement.
• Repair shoulders with gravel.
• Clean drainage structures.
• Trim trees and brush from roadsides. Mow shoulder grass and weeds.
• Replace and repair county road signage and support county road marking (painting).
• Remove animals and debris from roadway.
• Report new driveways placed or utility work being conducted on road right-of-way.
• Repair guardrails.
• Operate equipment including forklifts, wheel loaders, rollers and other equipment.
• Conduct preventative maintenance checks and services on a broad range of equipment.
• Maintain and install snowplows, snow wings and sanders.
• Maintain mowing tractors and mowers.
• Seasonal activities including crack filling, shouldering, culvert replacement, blow-up repair, concrete repair, black topping, brine production, flagging traffic and setting up lane closures.
• Work long hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays as needed.
• Work overtime as required, including on-call winter schedule from October 15th through April 15th.
• Demonstrate a commitment to county safety and risk management efforts.

Qualifications

Education And/or Experience

High school diploma or equivalent competencies, and two to three years of relevant prior experience. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, proportions, percentages as well as ability to apply basic algebra and geometry concepts to calculate area, circumference, volume, and /or land measures. Desired experience in operating heavy equipment such as single and tandem axle trucks, front-end loaders, dozers and motor graders.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations And Other Special Requirements

• Valid Wisconsin Commercial Driver's License - Class A or B required upon hire.
• Employees hired with a Class B CDL are required to obtain a Class A CDL within six (6) months of hire as a condition of continued employment.
• Wisconsin Commercial Driver's License - Tanker Endorsement N required within six (6) months of hire as a condition of continued employment.
• Good driving record for past 10 years.
• Heavy equipment operator's license preferred.
• Must wear steel toe safety shoes. Employees in this position will receive a $100 annual stipend for the purchase of safety shoes per Walworth County Ordinance Section 15-394.
• A written test may be required for applicants outside this classification.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to drive a 41,100# GVW truck with manual transmission.
• Ability to operate a tractor for roadside mowing and to perform other roadside maintenance, as well as maintenance on county equipment, buildings and grounds.
• Knowledge of road construction and maintenance.
• Knowledge of traffic laws, ordinances and regulations governing equipment operation.
• Knowledge of driver preventative maintenance of equipment (i.e. truck, tractor, end-loader, backhoe, grader).
• Knowledge of occupational hazards involved and precautions necessary for safe operation of motor-driven equipment, including operation over rough, slippery, icy or unstable conditions.
• Ability to understand, remember and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to utilize basic computer skills to document work efforts and complete timecards.

Interactions and Communications

Responds to others' requests for basic and general information.

Decision Making

This position has authority to make decisions that are within detailed procedures and protocols and under close supervision. These decisions directly impact performance in the job and/or work unit within the department and information is provided to others for their decision-making.

Thinking and Problem Solving

In relation to established procedures, protocols and policies of the County, challenges of this position tend to be routine and primarily related to procedure and process issues.

Tools & Equipment Used

• Vacuum Cleaner Computerized Sander Controls
• Telephone End Loaders
• Calculator Plow Trucks
• Copy Machine Computers for inventory and timecard documentation

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, outside weather conditions, and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; toxic or caustic chemicals; and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WALWORTH COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT SUMMARY

H - Non-Represented Hourly Employees

• BARGAINING UNIT: Non-Represented Hourly Employees Hired on or after January 1, 2012
• DATE: January 1, 2019
• EMPLOYMENT STATUS: All employees of Walworth County are at-will employees.
• BASIS OF PAYMENT: You are paid for actual hours worked plus pay for any accrued benefit time for which you are eligible. You are eligible for overtime or compensatory time in accordance with provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• SCHEDULED TIME OFF: Accrued based on straight-time hours paid each pay period. All accrued scheduled time off hours are available for use, subject to approval of your supervisor. As a full-time employee you earn scheduled time off (pro-rated for part-time) equivalent to the following:
• 10 days per year after 1 year of Walworth County Service
• 15 days per year after 5 years of Walworth County Service
• 20 days per year after 15 years of Walworth County Service
• PERSONAL TIME OFF: Employees will receive 64 hours of personal time off as a lump sum at the beginning of each year (pro-rated for part-time and newly-hired employees). At the end of each calendar year, an employee may request to move remaining personal time off hours to the extended sick leave bank. If no request is made, any remaining hours shall be paid out on the employee's last pay date of the calendar year.
• EXTENDED SICK LEAVE BANK: Used for time off of work for more serious health conditions that require three or more consecutive days off or when on an approved leave of absence.
• HOLIDAYS: Ten paid holidays each year. As a part-time employee, you receive pro-rated holiday pay based on your positions budgeted FTE.
• INSURANCE: Employees hired into a .75 FTE or higher position are eligible for Health, Dental, Life, Vision, Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability insurance benefits on the first of the month following 30 days of service provided you complete enrollment forms within 30 days of hire. Employees hired into a .50 FTE or higher position are eligible for all benefits listed below except Health insurance. Employees hired into a .49 FTE or less position are eligible to participate in Short-Term Disability only.
• Health Insurance: You can choose Tier 1 or Tier 2. Tier 1 is a standard co-pay plan. Tier 2 is a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). The County will contribute an amount approved by the County Board, payable as a lump sum to your HSA for Tier 2. You may also elect to contribute to your HSA up to the IRS maximum. You may elect either family or single coverage. The monthly premium will be split between the County and the employee.
• Dental Insurance: You may elect either family or single coverage. The county shall pay 100% (single or family) of the premium for a full-time and 50% (single or family) of the premium for a part-time employee enrolled in dental insurance.
• Life Insurance: The County provides you with term life insurance in an amount equal to $25,000. You have the option of purchasing additional coverage for yourself, spouse, and/or dependent children.
• Short-Term Disability Insurance: The County provides you with Short-Term Disability Insurance with premiums paid by the employer.
• LTD Insurance: The County provides you with Long-Term Disability Insurance. The monthly premium is 0.83% of your insured monthly wages. The County shall pay 67% of the premium & employee shall pay 33% of the premium.
• Vision Insurance: You may elect to participate in Vision insurance. The employee electing coverage shall pay 100% (single or family) of the premium for vision insurance.
• WISCONSIN RETIREMENT: You are covered under the Wisconsin Retirement System if you are expected to work a minimum of 1200 hours per year for a period of one year or more. The WRS provides you with separation, disability or retirement benefits upon termination. The payment is split between the county and employee, as prescribed by state law. Employees expected to work less than 1200 hours per year will not receive this benefit.
• EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE