The Town of Hermosa is accepting applications for a full-time Public Works Associate . This is a career opportunity for someone interested in developing a broad range of municipal public works skills while receiving paid, structured training in drinking-water system operations. Prior municipal or utility experience is welcome but is not required . The Town is looking for a dependable person with mechanical aptitude, a willingness to learn, good judgment, and the ability to take increasing responsibility as training and experience are completed. The selected employee will participate in the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems (SDARWS) Registered Apprenticeship Program for Water Systems Operations Specialist . The program combines paid on-the-job training with technical instruction and provides a pathway toward South Dakota water operator certification and a nationally recognized registered apprenticeship credential. The Town will pay required apprenticeship-related training, operator certification and testing expenses, and required job-related licensing costs. Position Development This position is designed to grow with the employee. The employee will begin with general municipal public works and maintenance responsibilities while receiving supervised training in water-system operations and other technical duties. Additional tasks may be authorized as the employee receives training and demonstrates competence. Following completion of the water operations apprenticeship, the employee will assume a broader range of independent public works responsibilities. A CDL is not required at hire, but must be eligible to apply . Applicants who already possess an appropriate CDL are encouraged to apply. If the employee does not already hold one, CDL training and licensing may be scheduled and funded by the Town following completion of the apprenticeship. General Responsibilities Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Lawn care, mowing, trimming, weed control, and maintenance of Town-owned grounds and rights-of-way
• Traffic sign inspection, repair, replacement, and maintenance
• General maintenance and minor repairs of Town buildings, garages, grounds, and facilities
• Water meter reading and reporting
• Assisting with Town events and community festivities
• Receiving work orders from Town office staff and documenting completed work through the Town's electronic infrastructure management system
• Maintaining accurate records of work performed
• Tracking inventory of parts, supplies, materials, tools, and other items necessary for public works operations
• Maintaining Town work areas, equipment, and storage areas in an orderly condition
• Assisting with water-system maintenance and operations as training and authorization permit
• Assisting with hydrants, valves, meters, utility locates, service work, inspections, sampling, system maintenance, and other water-system activities as properly trained and authorized
• Providing basic wastewater/sewer system maintenance support as trained and authorized
• Assisting with streets, drainage, rights-of-way, and other municipal infrastructure
• Performing snow and ice removal after appropriate training and once the necessary Town equipment is in place
• Operating Town vehicles, tools, machinery, and equipment for which the employee has been trained and authorized
• Operating CDL vehicles and heavy equipment after the appropriate training, licensing, and authorization
• Performing other public works duties consistent with the position, training, and demonstrated competence The Town will provide the vehicles, tools, personal protective equipment, and electronic equipment necessary to perform assigned duties.

The employee will not be expected to independently perform work requiring licensing, certification, specialized training, or demonstrated competence until those requirements have been satisfied. Work Structure The normal work schedule is: Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The employee receives a one-hour unpaid lunch period , which may generally be taken at the employee's discretion between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The position is 40 hours per week. Work is performed through the Town's established policies, authorized duties, work orders, and task-authorization procedures. For administrative guidance or clarification, the employee's points of contact are the Finance Officer, Board President, and Board Vice President, in that order . On-Call and Emergency Work Once trained for snow-removal operations and once the necessary Town equipment is in place, the employee will be subject to call-out for snow and ice removal. Following completion of the apprenticeship, the employee will be expected to maintain 24/7 availability for public works emergency call-outs . There is no separate standby compensation. An employee who is called out will receive a minimum of one hour of paid time for the response.

Compensation Starting wage:

$24.00 per hour Hours worked over 40 in a workweek are paid at 1.5 times the regular hourly rate . Hours actually worked on applicable federal or state holidays are paid at 2 times the regular hourly rate . Premium rates do not stack. Double time is the maximum applicable hourly rate. Benefits Full-time employees are eligible for the Town's benefit package, which currently includes:

• Employee-only health insurance premium paid 100% by the Town
• Current HSA-qualified health plan has a $3,500 deductible
• Town contribution of $75 per month to the employee's HSA
• $200 per month stipend for selecting the least-expensive available Town health insurance plan

South Dakota Retirement System:

Town contributes 6% of wages and employee contributes 6%; vesting after three years

Vacation:

accrues at 4.3333 hours per twice-monthly pay period, with up to 120 hours carried over

• Sick leave: accrues at 8 hours per month, available for use after three months of employment, with up to 240 hours carried over
• Paid holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
• One paid Personal Day
• Three days of bereavement leave for immediate family
• Workers' Compensation coverage
• Town-paid required training, certifications, testing, licensing, tools, PPE, and work equipment Minimum Qualifications Applicants must:
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Possess a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent credential
• Possess a valid driver's license
• Have a driving record acceptable to the Town's insurer
• Reside within 25 miles of Hermosa at the time of hire
• Be able to communicate effectively with Town staff, contractors, officials, and the public
• Be able to work independently and accurately complete assigned work
• Be able to demonstrate basic mechanical troubleshooting skills
• Be able to routinely lift and carry up to 50 pounds
• Be able to climb, bend, kneel, work around machinery and equipment, and perform sustained physical work
• Be able to work outdoors in heat, cold, rain, snow, wind, and other adverse conditions Applicants will be evaluated in part on mechanical aptitude during the interview process . The evaluation is one factor in comparing candidates and is not intended to require previous professional mechanical experience. Conditions of Employment Employment is contingent upon:
• Successful background check
• Successful pre-employment drug screening
• Successful Town-paid DOT physical prior to hire
• Acceptable driving record
• Successful demonstration of mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills Employees are also subject to random drug testing throughout employment .

Pay:

$24.00 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Bereavement leave Health insurance On-the-job training

Work Location:

In person