Equipment Operator
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Lincoln County
Highway Department
POSITION SUMMARY
Under the supervision of the Lincoln County Road Supervisor, the Equipment Operator is a non-exempt
position under FLSA. The primary responsibilities of this employee include operating road maintenance
equipment for the maintenance, repair or building of county transportation facilities and other county
owned entities. Providing a safe public transportation system is the goal of this employee. This
employee must be able to work with minimum direct supervision. This is a safety sensitive position and
is subject to random drug and alcohol testing.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
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Provides for proper maintenance of county roads;
Operates heavy equipment machinery including mower, tractor, rock roller, dozer, loader,
grader, etc.;
Constructs and maintains county roads, bridges and culverts using heavy equipment;
Performs routine service and maintenance on equipment;
Performs duties involved in the construction and maintenance of bridges and other drainage
structures;
Performs duties involved in the installation and maintenance of county owned structures;
Works with citizens and governmental entities in the construction, maintenance, and repair of
county roads;
Reports road problems & provides long range road maintenance needs;
Maintains list of needed repairs in area to be done during slack time;
Serves as a truck driver.
MARGINAL FUNCTIONS
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Installs traffic control devices and provides traffic control where necessary;
Provides vegetation control and tree removal;
Operates two-way radio;
Provides welding services;
Provides snow removal and installs snow fences;
Performs yard and shop maintenance;
Constructs and repairs fences when necessary;
Assists with painting duties;
Provides crane operation while building bridges, extracting material from drainage bodies and
loading and unloading material;
Attends and participates in training and educational sessions for department employees;
Assists other county departments as required;
Assists with Emergency Preparedness response as assigned, according to chain of command;
May be required to work overtime in emergency situations ex. Snow, flood;
Performs other duties as deemed necessary or as assigned.
Equipment Operator
Position Requirements
Lincoln County
Highway Department
EXPERIENCE:
One to three years of similar or related experience is preferred. Employee
is expected to have acquired the necessary information and skills to perform the job reasonably well
within six months to one year of employment.
EDUCATION:
High school diploma or GED is required. A valid Class “A” Commercial
Driver’s License is required.
TECHNICAL SKILLS:
Knowledge of mechanics, welding and measuring and working knowledge
of mathematics is necessary. The ability to operate loaders, dozers, mowers, motor graders, trucks, and
other heavy equipment is required with a high degree of accuracy. The ability to understand and
interpret written instructions, maps, schematics, manuals, reports, regulations, and other written material
is required. A thorough knowledge of the physical layout of Lincoln County is required. This employee
should have excellent organizational, public relations, and oral and written communication skills.
PROBLEM SOLVING:
Independent problem solving is a major factor in this position. Problems
this employee may encounter include dealing with equipment malfunctions, adverse weather, and
dealing with public concerns regarding road and bridge conditions.
DECISION MAKING:
Independent decision-making is a factor in this position. This employee
makes decisions about proper maintenance and repair of equipment, and performing daily duties in the
most efficient manner.
SUPERVISION:
This employee works under the supervision of the Lincoln County Road
Supervisor and Assistant Road Supervisor. This employee does not exercise any supervisory
responsibilities over subordinate personnel.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY:
This employee is responsible for county equipment and
resources. This employee does not participate in the annual budget process.
PERSONAL RELATIONS:
supervisory personnel is expected.
Frequent contact with the general public, co-workers, and
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Adverse working conditions exist within this position. Exposure to
large and small machinery and equipment, excessive noise, heights, work in confined areas, hazardous
chemicals and all types of weather conditions are expected.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Manual labor including lifting and carrying heavy objects, and the
ability to operate department equipment is required daily in this position.
ATTENDANCE:
Employees must be at their job performing essential duties on a regular and
continuing basis with no excessive absences.
Equipment Operator Job Standards
Task – Maintain assigned roads. (Surface, crown, shoulders, ditches, Right of Way, signs & signposts)
Surfacing or grading should maintain the riding surface, while removing potholes, ridges or cracks due
to traffic concentration. Whenever the conditions warrant, material(s) may have to be added to the road
surface to maintain a satisfactory riding surface. Heavily traveled roads will require periodic resurfacing,
or reconstruction. These projects will be scheduled and budgeted by the Road Supervisor on
recommendation of the Equipment Operator. Roads that have been resurfaced or reconstructed should
last 7 to 10 years with proper maintenance.
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Repair potholes, and sand “bleeding” asphalt, and assist on sealing projects on asphalt roads.
Maintain crown on all gravel surface roads to a minimum 1/3” per foot of roadway as
measured from the center of the road. (Equals 4” crown on a 24” road)
Maintain shoulders on all gravel surface roads so that the road surface can drain excess
moisture properly. Mow shoulder vegetation in season. Shoulders must slope sufficient to
allow for good drainage and flow. (Desirable shoulder slope is greater than that of the crown)
Maintain ditch system in order to facilitate drainage from the road, and flow to and through
drainage structures. Periodically scrape, or pull excess material from ditches. Control of
unwanted vegetation and illegal structures must be maintained. Request spraying of broadleaf
weeds. Request that illegal fences be removed where they interfere with the roadway
maintenance.
Maintain county owned right of way (ROW) for all assigned roads:
a. Request spraying of weeds.
b. Request removal of illegal structures.
c. Remove trees that interfere with ROW.
Maintain sign according to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), and
the Low Volume Road Manual (LVR). This includes proper sign selection, location and
position. Signpost will be as described in the MUTCD.
Maintain flow and condition of all culverts on assigned route. Clean out plugged culverts.
Repair damaged culvert end sections. Regularly check culverts for segment separation or
collapse under roads. Report culverts that are unable to carry sufficient flow during normal
runoff.
TASK – Maintain assigned structures (Bridges and Culverts)
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Maintain and report conditions of all bridges on assigned route. Ensure that road materials
are not bladed are not bladed onto bridge decks unless so designed. Keep vegetation cut
around bridges. Report any illegal dumping of trash around bridges. Maintain proper signs
and markers on bridges. Clean debris from under bridges and adjacent flow channel. Inspect
deck plank for replacement. Inspect adjacent stream banks for erosion. Check for scour
around piers and abutments. Fill varmint holes near bridges. Conduct complete bridge
maintenance on each bridge as directed by the Road Supervisor.
Maintain flow and condition of all culverts on assigned route. Clean out plugged culverts.
Repair damaged culvert end sections. Regularly check culverts for segment separation or
collapse under roads. Report culverts that are unable to carry sufficient flow during normal
runoff.
TASK – Maintain assigned equipment and machinery.
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Maintain assigned motor grader. Perform daily, weekly, monthly, and periodic checks as
prescribed by the manufacturer, or as directed by the Shop Foreman or Shop Mechanic.
Perform minor repairs and adjustments as needed. Report deficiencies beyond operator
capability to repair to the Shop Foreman. Draw Oil Analysis Program (OAP) samples as
required. Ensure that grader blades are rotated and changed in the most economical manner.
Keep machine clean and spot painted as necessary.
Maintain other equipment as required:
a. Maintain mower and tractor according to manufacturer specifications.
b. Maintain backhoe and attachments according to manufacturer specifications.
c. Maintains front-end loader according to manufacturer specifications.
d. Maintain crawler tractor according to manufacturer specifications.
e. Maintain rubber-tired excavator (RTE) according to manufacturer specifications.
f. Maintain chainsaws and other power tools according to manufacturer specifications.
g. Maintain other assigned equipment according to manufacturer specifications.
TASK – Other duties as assigned or special projects.
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Perform duties as part of construction crew on projects, or a directed by the Road Supervisor,
Assistant Road Supervisor or Shop Foreman.
Install signs in accordance with the approved plan on all sign projects.
Maintain appropriate Kansas Commercial Drivers License as required for the job.
Immediately report all accidents or incidents involving property damage or personal injury to
the Road Supervisor, and Assistant Road Supervisor or Shop Foreman.