Street Equipment Operator

An employee in this class performs as a skilled operator in the operation of medium and heavy construction equipment in the maintenance and repair of streets and other municipal structures. Typical equipment operated includes dump truck, tractor, backhoe, trash truck, knuckle boom, sweeper, leaf truck, chipper, air compressor, sled tamp, jump task packer, chain saw, road saw, skid steer, cement mixer, snowplow, jack hammer, bush hog, lawn mowers, weed eater and leaf blower and/or other motorized equipment. Work includes grading various structures, digging, equipment maintenance, truck driving, asphalt patching and other tasks as assigned. Work is performed under the general supervision of Streets Supervisor and is evaluated for compliance with safety procedures, skill in equipment operation, and overall appearance of city structures and is evaluated by visual inspection.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Operates equipment including large trucks, backhoes, track hoes, and other vehicles and equipment to transport materials and equipment to job sites; purchases and hauls asphalt; digs trenches and makes concrete and asphalt cuts.
• Digs, forms, pours and finishes concrete.
• Operates a backhoe to dig out asphalt, ditches, and repair or install sidewalks and storm water management systems. 
• Builds and repairs catch basins and installs drainpipes.
• Calculates fall for drain pipes and uses transit to measure fall.
• Cleans ditches and catch basins; assists in repair of pot holes, assists in storm clean up and tree, branch and limb removal.
• Operates a snow plow and salt spreader to remove snow and ice from city streets. 
• Washes and cleans assigned equipment; performs routine servicing such as checking fluid level, tire pressure, changing oil and filters and greasing equipment. 
• Performs other general maintenance tasks or construction tasks such as installing street signs, trimming bushes or trees for sight distance, laying driveway pipe, collecting leaves and other similar tasks.
• Responds to emergencies when required.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

High school diploma; and one (1) year of experience in the operation, maintenance and care of a variety of medium and heavy construction equipment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Special Qualifications:

• Possession of a valid Class A Driver's License to operate a motor vehicle.  Requirement exists at the time of hire and as a condition of continued employment.
• Forklift operation training
• Flagger certification.
• Confined Space Entry certification. 
• Competent Person certification.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of the operation of varied equipment operation including those requiring CDL license.
• Knowledge of municipal street locations, safety procedures, and city policies regarding equipment operation, and OSHA safety regulations.
• Skills in operating a motor grader, track hoe, backhoe, forklift, loader, dump truck, tamp, jackhammer, and other maintenance equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with city residents and crew members.
• Ability to receive and carry out instructions provided by the supervisor and function as supervisor in charge in the absence of crew supervisor.
• Ability to identify and report maintenance needs of various structures, grounds, and facilities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work in this classification is defined as heavy work requiring physical exertion in excess of up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force to move objects. Work requires climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, handling and repetitive motions. Work requires dexterity in the hands for typing and operation of standard office equipment and visual acuity is necessary to read handwritten and typewritten materials and to operate a computer terminal. Vocal communication is required to express or exchange ideas. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Visual acuity is required for depth perception, preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection of products, operation of machines, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed in outside environmental conditions, including extreme cold and heat as well as noise levels requiring workers requiring the wearing of protective gear. Employees are subject to physical workplace hazards including proximity to moving mechanical parts or construction equipment, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, and potential exposure to chemicals. Employees are subject to atmospheric conditions including fumes, odors, dusts, dirt, mists, gases, or poor ventilation. This employee may work in close quarters, crawl space, shafts, man holes, small enclosures, small sewage and water line pipes, and other areas which could cause claustrophobia.

The responsibilities of the Public Works departmentinclude c oordinating street maintenance, maintaining traffic signals and lights, garbage and trash collection, maintaining public buildings, grounds and cemetery, recycling program, snow and ice removal, leaf collection, removal of dead animals within the street right of way, beautification of downtown Hendersonville and Seventh Avenue Historical District and the City Garage.

The City of Hendersonville is located in Henderson County, North Carolina. Hendersonville consisting of six square miles and multiple historic districts, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and sits between the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains, 22 miles south of Asheville, NC. With an altitude of 2200 feet above sea level, the region provides wonderful year-round recreational opportunities. The City is home to over 14,000 residents and operates under a Council- Manager form of government. A thriving Hendersonville Historic Downtown district, and member of the NC Main Street Program, Hendersonville is host to a variety of businesses, festivals and activities throughout the year. This beautiful mountain community strives to maintain its quality of life for year-round residents as well as the seasonal influx of tourists in Fall and Summer.