Public Works Maintenance Worker 3 - Grounds Maintenance

RE-ANNOUNCEMENT* *This position is being re-announced due to a limited pool of candidates.
The City of Madison is searching for a qualified applicant to become its next Grounds Maintenance Worker. This is semi-skilled work involving grounds maintenance and upkeep of the lawns and landscaping at more than 37 sites including Unit Wells, Booster stations, storage facilities, and office buildings. This employee exercises independent judgment in prioritizing work and completing assigned maintenance activities. This work involves taking care of the plants, trees, lawns, shrubs and flowers. This includes the removal of dead plantings, purchasing new plants, planting, watering, and maintaining plantings and landscapes. This also may include adding dirt, seed, bark mulch, planting bed edging, or stone. Duties also include mowing, trimming, weeding, pruning, leaf collection, removing litter, snow plowing, snow blowing, shoveling, sanding or salting areas. This employee assists with ditch repair, distribution system flushing, valve exercising program, and assists as the One Call Coordinator as needed.
Work may include routine inspection and operation of valves, curb stops and hydrants. The work will also include any required work in maintenance and repair of the distribution system. Work is done independently and reviewed by supervising staff that includes Public Works General Supervisor, Water Utility Field Supervisors or Engineering staff for compliance with maintenance objectives and project goals as may be required. The employee will provide leadership to assigned personnel including but not limited to hourly employees, Public Works Maintenance Worker 1, Equipment Operator 1, or other employees assigned. Work shifts other than regular day shift as need for work activities.
Employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program . Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We value the unique blend of lived experiences and diverse perspectives that comes from non-traditional education pathways and the variety of transferrable skills each candidate brings to the table. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Even if every item on the job posting doesnt match your experience perfectly, we encourage you to apply and share how your skills and experience can best serve our community.

Lawn care and grounds and site maintenance:

• Mow, weed and trim at Water Utility sites.
• Assess condition and maintain equipment.
• Perform safety checks and maintenance on vehicles and equipment as required.
• Provide minor landscaping (dirt and seed-plantings-bark-stone etc,).
• Provide assistance to customers with complaints or questions.
• Maintain records of any work performed.
• Prune small trees and shrubs.
• Prepare and plant new trees and various plants.
• Remove litter, trash and debris.
• Plow, shovel and remove snow.
• Salt and sand Water Utility sites.

Operate troubleshooting truck:

• Perform curb stop and valve maintenance and repair.
• Receive and prioritize work orders using Cityworks software.
• Respond to Water Utility emergencies, i.e. water leaks.
• Investigate possible water leaks.
• Assist customers, contractors, other City agencies with Water related concerns or questions.
• Pick-up and deliver supplies and materials.
• Unload supplies from delivery trucks (using forklift or other means).
• Assess condition of Water Utility ditches, repair or report any needed repair to the appropriate supervisor.

Lead ongoing program in valve survey:

• Perform valve turning operations.
• Document valve maintenance done.
• Document discrepancies found in the distribution system.

Assist our One Call Coordinators (Locators):

• Receive and prioritize Diggers Hotline requests (tickets) via TelDig.
• Locate and mark one call request, per established codes, of all underground installments of the utility to include; water mains, services, hydrant leads, curb stops and valves.
• Respond to emergency locate requests.

Perform heavy manual labor to repair and maintain the water distribution system:

• Operate single, tandem and tri-axle dump trucks.
• Operate various tools and equipment used in the installation, maintenance and repair of a water distribution system.
• Work as part of our Field Crews to reach maintenance or repair objectives.

Perform related work, as assigned. Three (3) years experience in performing heavy manual or maintenance related work.
If an applicant does not possess the minimum qualifications above, Human Resource will review the application materials to determine if applicant possesses equivalent experiences.
Two (2) years of work experience applying the following:

• Minor maintenance and repair of all buildings and grounds.
• Operation of a variety of related equipment, including zero turn lawn mowers, riding lawn mowers, push mowers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, shovels, snow blowers, snow plows, trackless, trimmers, chain saw, and weed eaters.
• Operation of hand and power tools and equipment commonly used in water system repair and maintenance activities.
• Water main flushing.
• Construction and repair of water distribution systems, and using appropriate workplace safety practices.
• Maintenance, repair, and replacement of valves, curb stops, and curb stop boxes.
• Computer software applications associated with a municipal water utility.

The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to effectively work with multicultural communities.
For the complete list of the knowledge, skills, and abilities, please reference the Public Works Maintenance Worker 3 classification specification .

Possession of a valid Wisconsin driver's license.

Possession of a Class A Commercial Driver's License within six (6) months of employment. A condition of continued employment is passage of the written portion (Learners Permit portion) of the relevant Department of Transportation testing process within three (3) months of employment and passage of the skills (road test) portion of the test and obtaining the required operator's license within six (6) months of employment.

Physical Requirements:

Employees in this position must be able to lift/carry objects weighing up to 90 pounds and must be capable of lifting heavier objects with another employee. This position requires a high percentage of work outdoors in all types of weather at various times of day and night while walking and standing. In addition, employees must be able to frequently bend, twist, squat, climb and reach for extended periods of time.

*The payroll title for this position is Public Works Maintenance Worker 3.