Utility Technician

City of Dallas, Oregon; Dallas (OR); On-site; USD 47,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability insurance

PERS

Paid holiday

Vacation

Sick leave

Deferred compensation

Job summary

The City of Dallas, Oregon is seeking a Utility Worker I/II to perform a wide range of maintenance tasks across the wastewater, street, storm drainage, and facilities systems. The role involves operating equipment, inspecting facilities, communicating with residents, and supporting emergency responses as a first responder within Public Works.

Qualified candidates will have a high school diploma or GED, valid Oregon driver license, and may need a Class B CDL.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a variety of records relating to inspections, maintenance activities, system cleaning etc.
• Inspects pumping stations, meters, streets, drainage systems and sewer systems to ensure proper function.
• Responds to complaints regarding wastewater plugs/spills, sewer odor, plugged catch basins, etc.
• Contacts residents and business owners about service interruptions and restoration timelines.
• Determines location of utility lines prior to excavation and locates underground utilities.
• Ensures proper maintenance of equipment and tools; performs routine inspections and preventive maintenance.
• Drives trucks, operates street sweeper, backhoe/loader, vactor, tractors, mowers, loaders as assigned.
• Performs duties in safety and security standards; participates in construction/maintenance of street, wastewater, stormwater, and facility systems.
• Operates wastewater/stormwater/water main cleaning and repair, pavement work, concrete and asphalt tasks as part of projects.
• Assists in maintenance and repair of City buildings; may perform plumbing, carpentry, electrical, painting, and janitorial work.
• Assists in training employees to increase skills; maintains assigned tools and equipment.
• As a Utility Worker, designated as a “First Responder” and may be required for on-call duty and overtime.
• May assist in reading and operation of utility meters.

Job description

General Statement of Duties

Performs a variety of unskilled to skilled maintenance work, and operates a variety of equipment in the construction, operation, repair, maintenance, and replacement of City wastewater, street maintenance, and storm drainage, buildings and grounds facilities, and other utility systems.

• Maintains a variety of records relating to inspections, maintenance activities, system cleaning etc.
• Inspects pumping stations, meters, streets, drainage systems and sewer system at frequent intervals to ensure that all aspects of the systems are functioning properly.
• Responds to complaints regarding wastewater plugs or spills, sewer odor, plugged catch basins and storm drainage, high water, grounds or facility problems, street hazards, etc.; evaluates situations and explains findings to Lead Worker, Foreman, Public Works Operations Supervisor or Water Utility Supervisor.
• Contacts residents and business owners in areas affected by maintenance activities where service will be interrupted and explains when service will be shut off and how soon it will be turned back on.
• Determines the location of gas, telephone, power, television, water, wastewater and stormwater lines from the appropriate sources (call for locates, 811) prior to excavation. Locates City owned/operated underground utility lines and facilities including wastewater, stormwater and water lines.
• Ensures the proper maintenance of equipment and tools by cleaning and checking equipment and tools after use.
• Drives trucks of various sizes and weights in the loading, hauling and unloading of various equipment, gravel and sand. Operates street sweeper, backhoe/loader, vactor, tractors, mowers and loaders as assigned.
• Performs routine inspection and preventive maintenance on assigned equipment and refer defects or needed repairs to the Supervisor; clean and check equipment and tools after use.
• Performs all duties in conformance with appropriate safety and security standards.
• Performs required labor involved in construction and maintenance of projects as part of a crew, in maintenance, repair and construction of the street, wastewater, stormwater, and facility systems.
• Performs required activities including pavement cutting and removal, asphalt installation and repair, concrete pouring and finishing, utility ditch digging and cleaning, construction of manholes and catch basins, cleaning of wastewater, stormwater and water mains, manhole cleaning and repair, wastewater and stormwater main and pipe repair, laying and back-filling.
• Operates equipment of the Public Works Department, including dump trucks, backhoe, tractor, mower, tiller, sewer machine etc. in performing a variety of tasks in the street and sewer division of the Public Works Department.
• Performs maintenance and repair work on all City buildings. Duties include, plumbing work, mechanical work, carpentry work, cement work, painting and janitorial work, etc.
• Assists in the maintenance and repair work at the sewage lift stations.
• Assists in the training of employees to increase their skill in the areas of maintenance, construction and repair.
• Maintains assigned tools and equipment.
• As a Utility Worker in the Public Works Maintenance Department, employee is considered a “First Responder” which is considered essential personnel. This means in the event City offices close due to inclement weather, etc., employee is still required to report to work for scheduled shift, as well as any overtime or extra hours required.
• Must be available for occasional on-call duty to respond to Public Works emergency calls.
• Employee may be required to work overtime at the discretion of the Public Works Operations Supervisor.
• Employee may assist in the construction, operation, repair, maintenance, and replacement of City water distribution and water treatment facilities and systems and may perform routine clerical and semi-skilled utility work in the reading and operation of utility meters.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Reasonable knowledge of equipment, facilities, materials, methods, and procedures used in maintenance, construction, and repair activities.
• Skill in operation of some of the listed tools and equipment.
• Ability to perform heavy manual tasks for extended periods; ability to work safely; ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other departments and the public; ability to understand and carry out written and oral instructions.
• Ability to perform and record arithmetic computations accurately and quickly; ability to accurately read and record data from various types of meter dials; ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing; ability to work in inclement weather; ability to establish successful working relationships; ability to work with angry or difficult customers.

Minimum Qualifications

Utility Worker I:

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent, and
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Utility Worker II:

• Graduation from high school education or GED equivalent, and
• Two (2) years of experience working with a water or wastewater system, general construction and maintenance, or experience in performing a variety of building maintenance functions including plumbing, carpentry, electrical and painting work.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Qualifications

Required Special Qualifications

Utility Worker I:

• Must possess or be able to obtain by time of employment a valid Oregon Driver License with an acceptable driving record;
• Commercial Driver License (Class B) required within 12 months of hire;
• Wastewater Collection Systems Operator 1 or higher required within 6 months of hire
• Salary range for this position is $4,231.67 - $5,148.48/mo. depending on experience and qualifications (plus a cost of living adjustment which will be determined once a successor union contract is signed).

Utility Worker II:

• Must possess or be able to obtain by time of employment a valid Oregon Driver License with an acceptable driving record;
• Commercial Driver License (Class B) required within 12 months of employment.
• Certification from the State of Oregon as a Wastewater Collection System Operator II.
• Additionally, the Utility Worker II position is eligible for a certification incentive for possession of a Wastewater Collection System III Certification from the State of Oregon.
• Salary range for this position is $4,760.06 - $5,791.34/mo. depending on experience and qualifications (plus a cost of living adjustment which will be determined once a successor union contract is signed).

The City of Dallas offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including: health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, PERS, paid holiday, vacation, and sick leave, deferred compensation plans.