Utility Worker II - Public Works, Bureau of Highways, Cooksville Shop

Position Summary

This is a semiskilled position that provides both manual labor and equipment operation support to accomplish the organization’s objectives.

This position has been designated as essential personnel, meaning an employee is expected to report for the regular work shift during inclement weather, emergency situations, county holidays, and on an on-call basis.

Starting hourly rate: $21.03 - $23.22. Annual salary range: $43,748 - $48,290.

This is a Classified position. The employee becomes part of the Howard County Classified Service after completing at least six (6) months probation.

This position falls within a collective bargaining unit and is represented by AFSCME Local 3085, Local 3888, or Local 1810.

• Operate a variety of equipment such as spreader box, rollers, sweepers, hoses, cement mixers, forklifts, tractors with attachments, compactors, and air hammers in highway maintenance work.
• Operate tailgate to regulate stone flow over tarred surfaces.
• Operate paint spray and highway striping equipment as needed.
• Operate snowplow and clear a determined snow emergency route.
• May operate a dump truck with attachments during emergencies.
• Perform preventative maintenance on equipment by changing oil, oil filters; checking battery, transmission brake, and steering fluid levels; lubricating; charging batteries; cleaning engine parts; changing tires and windshield wipers.
• Use scythes, lawn mower, and other equipment to cut grass and weeds.
• Use chain‑saw and other tools to remove tree limbs, trees, and debris.
• Lays brick or drainage structures.
• Builds and installs basic forms and guides for grading and masonry operations.
• Performs concrete spreading.
• Reads blueprints and does stake‑outs.
• Sets up work zone traffic control.
• May interact directly with the public at work sites or other locations.
• Inputs computer data.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or required.

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

• Possession of a valid Class "C" driver’s license with the ability to obtain a Class "B" commercial driver’s license (CDL) within six (6) months of hire.
• Possession of valid Maryland approved flagger certification and forklift certification required within six months of employment.
• A confined space training certification may be required if the work assignment warrants.

• Knowledge of methods and techniques of operating and caring for hand and power tools and ability to learn the operation of such tools.
• Knowledge of standard practices of operations.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to learn safe and correct work procedures.
• Ability to perform heavy labor for prolonged periods of time, often under adverse weather conditions.
• Ability to maintain effective relationships with the public and coworkers.

The employee must regularly talk or hear, stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl. The employee must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The job may be performed under outside weather conditions, exposure to moving mechanical parts, vibration, fumes, airborne particles, high or precarious places, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock.

Noise level is usually loud.

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, memos, and read a road map.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information in one‑on‑one situations.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.