Harness Track Specialist

This position requires some occasional work on weekends and holidays. For more information on the Harness Track .

Employees in this class perform a mix of manual and unskilled to semi‑skilled trades in maintenance and repair duties. Percentages of time spent working on facilities and grounds vary depending on seasonal, special events, and other workload priorities. Maintenance of harness track grounds includes watering and preparing the harness track to ensure consistency in track conditions to reduce the risk of horse and rider injuries;

maintaining paddock areas; and mowing, planting, weed eating and pruning, trimming, and blowing the 111 acre harness track grounds. Employees also perform unskilled to semi‑skilled trades work in the maintenance, repair, or renovation of 17 barns consisting of 312 stalls, 40 grooms’ quarters, and 20 paddock areas. Employees are subject to working in inside and outside environments, in extreme cold and hot weather, and hazards in the work including exposures to loud noises, vibrations, proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working in high places, exposure to chemicals, fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, and oils.

Work is subject to the final OSHA standards on blood borne pathogens. Work is performed under general supervision and is reviewed through observation and discussion for quality, appearance and functionality.

• Maintains and prepares three dirt/clay tracks for off season training of Standard bred horses; ensures surface consistency and angulations based upon humidity and wind in order to reduce horse and rider injury; responds to questions from trainers and riders concerning track condition and facilities.
• Mows grounds; weed eats; sprays herbicides and pesticides; cuts out brush; blows leaves; and cleans grounds for special events; picks up trash and empties trash cans; waters plants.
• Performs landscaping duties; fertilizes, plants flowers and shrubs, spreads seed, prunes, plants and mulches flower and shrub beds and trees.
• Maintains harness track structures and facilities to include stalls and paddock areas; plows snow using a tractor; digs holes and installs posts.
• Performs general facilities maintenance involving basic trades such as replacing light bulbs and ballasts or pulling wires, plumbing such as replacing seals on toilets or sink faucets, assisting in repair of doors and frames, and constructing and painting walls, etc.
• Assists with the demolition of barns; may perform some basic trades independently such as assisting in repairing stalls and installing or repairing plumbing; replaces water heaters.
• Operates complex riding mowers, backhoe, tractor and cutting attachments, weed eater, chain saw, blowers, pump sprayer, etc. to maintain grounds; prepares grounds and facilities in support of State and national special events.
• Performs custodial cleaning of grooms’ quarters and the general complex.
• Performs all work in accordance with OSHA and Village safety standards and regulations.
• Collects trash from parks; moves furniture and equipment as assigned.
• Responds to citizens’ questions while working on projects providing clear information on the project and/or referring the person to the appropriate resource within the Village.
• Assists with the Harness Track special events and may help to set up and tear down structures during these events.
• Performs related duties as required.

• Working knowledge of the principles and techniques of some of the skilled trades performed in the department.
• Working knowledge of the methods, tools, and equipment used in the assigned trades.
• Working knowledge of safety regulations, occupational hazards, and related safety precautions in the work.
• Skill in the use and care of assigned tools and equipment.
• Working knowledge of the concepts and philosophy of teamwork and ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
• Ability to exercise judgment and initiative.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the harness track racing community, co-workers, supervisor,…