What are the responsibilities and job description for the Drainage/Ag Inspector position at Douglas County, MN?
Job Description
JOB TITLE: Drainage and Agricultural Inspector
DEPT: Public Works
STATUS: Full-Time; 40 hrs/week
STARTING SALARY: The current starting salary for this position is $63,502.40 annually ($30.53 hourly). Receive anniversary step increases for earning potential of $81,536. annually ($39.20 hourly). In addition, receive annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) per the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Benefits- We also offer no-cost/low-cost health insurance plan options. Douglas County contributes to a Health Savings Account and a (PERA) pension plan. Become vested in as little as 3 years of employment for lifetime benefits upon retirement! Douglas County is also a qualified Employer for the Public Sector Loan Forgiveness Program.
Life Insurance– as a County employee you will be covered by $40,000 of life insurance at no expense. Supplemental coverage is available for you, your spouse, and your dependents.
*New Year’s Day *Martin Luther King Jr Day *Presidents’ Day *Memorial Day *Fourth of July *Veterans’ Day *Thanksgiving Day *Day after Thanksgiving (in place of Columbus Day) *Christmas Day *Juneteenth *Labor Day *Personal Holiday *When Christmas Eve falls on a work day, the County offices will close at noon. When a holiday falls on a Saturday the preceding Friday shall be declared a holiday. If it falls on a Sunday it will be given on Monday.
Vacations:
Employees will accrue vacation according to the following schedule:
0 - 5 years - 10 working days.
6 -10 years - 15 working days.
11 - 15 years - 20 working days.
16 - 20 years - 25 working days.
Over 20 years - 30 working days.
JOB OBJECTIVES:
The Drainage and Agricultural Inspector oversees and manages the maintenance and repairs of all legal drainage systems in Douglas County, along with their finances. Preserves and records the historic records, plans, and files of these systems, all according to MN Statute 103E, assists, consults, and advises the Douglas County Board of Commissioners in their role as the Drainage Authority for County Ditches along with other Commissioners on Joint Ditches. Carries out the duties of the Agricultural Inspector for Douglas County, working with the cities, townships, and citizens of Douglas County. Provide roadside vegetation management along all County Roads and Guardrails.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of those specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
- Receive, inspect, and present to the Drainage authority requests or petitions submitted by landowners for repairs along with the necessary information for Board action.
- Conduct actual repairs and maintenance on legal drainage systems or hire contractors when needed to repair or replace tile, remove beaver dams, control woody vegetation, clean ditches, level spoil, seed and re-vegetate disturbed areas, repair washouts, and any other repair need that arises.
- Inspect, survey, and prepare plans for major repairs or projects that would be put out on bids as well as submit to the appropriate agencies for their review and comment insuring compliance with MN Statute 103E.
- Conduct annual inspections on all ditches and provide a written report to the County Board regarding the system condition, repair, and maintenance needs, financial status, and a recommendation on any needed work along with any special assessment needed to cover expenses.
- Record and document all actions taken on the drainage systems physically and digitally for future reference, entering pertinent data and information into a GIS database.
- Review, approve, and code all bills involving the legal drainage systems.
- On lands assessed for benefits, conduct the division of the monetary benefits assigned when properties are split and provide an annual report to the Auditor for recording prior to issuance of tax statements each year.
- Schedule, publish notice, set up, and record hearings or meetings outside of the regular board meetings regarding drainage matters.
- Apply herbicide for the control of noxious weeds and woody vegetation along both drainage and county road ditches.
- Inspect and sample seeds from any or all retail and agricultural seed dealers within the county; administer test for commercial applicator licensing; work with Douglas County cities, townships, and citizens in carrying out and administrating the MN Noxious Weed Law.
- Ability to interact with landowners and drainage contractors regarding maintenance and repairs to legal drainage systems.
- Knowledge of MN Statute 103E, drainage maintenance BMPs, problems and issues involving both open drainage ditches and tile systems, and what to look for when conducting inspections and repairs.
- Understand the procedure and methodology used in determining benefits and damages on drainage systems.
- Complies with all rules and policies in order to maintain a safe work environment.
- Reliable, predictable attendance and punctuality.
- Other duties, as assigned or apparent.
Access to Not Public Data
The incumbent may encounter not public data in the course of these duties. Any access to not public data should be strictly limited to accessing the data that are necessary to fulfill the employment responsibility. While data are being accessed, incumbent should take reasonable measures to ensure the not public data are not accessed by individuals without a work reason. Once the work reason to access the data is reasonably finished, incumbent must properly store the not public data according to the provisions Ch. 13.
If a new work assignment requires access to not public data, the incumbent is permitted to access not public data for the work assignment purposes only. Any access to not public data must be strictly limited to the data necessary to complete the work assignment and after the assignment is completed, the employee's work assignment no longer requires access.
REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AT HIRE:
Education
High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience
2 years of drainage construction work experience.
Licenses and Other Requirements:
Pesticide Applicator license.
Currently possess a valid Class D, Minnesota State Driver's License, or ability to obtain upon start of employment.
CPR/First Aid certification or the ability to complete within the first 6 months of employment.
Successful completion of Chainsaw training within the first 6 months of employment or before on-the-job chainsaw operation.
REQUIRED MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, & QUALITIES AT HIRE:
- Knowledge of drainage statutes.
- Knowledge of noxious weed law and seed inspection requirements.
- Knowledge and experience with pesticide application.
PREFERRED / DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education
2 years of post-secondary education; Civil/Survey Technology preferred.
Experience
See required minimum qualifications at hire.
PREFERRED / DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, & QUALITIES:
See the required minimum knowledge, skills, abilities & qualities at hire.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Public building/community.
HOURS
Generally, Monday through Friday 7:00 am - 3:30 pm.
40 hours per week.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS CAN INVOLVE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
- Typically, 60% of the time in the office and 40% of the time in the field. Ditch inspections may include walking across uneven terrain, sometimes miles from a road. Office time is spent mostly in front of a computer.
Amount Lifted:
Amount Lifted Up to 10 lbs.: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Amount Lifted 11 to 50 lbs.: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Amount Lifted 51 to 80 lbs.: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Amount Lifted 81 to 101 lbs.: Not Present
Amount Pushed or Pulled:
Amount Pushed or Pulled Up to 50 lbs.: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Amount Pushed or Pulled 51 to 80 lbs.: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Amount Pushed or Pulled 81 to 101 lbs.: Not Present
Vision:
Near Vision: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Far Vision & Depth: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs.,17 min or 88 to 172 days
Field of Vision: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs.,17 min or 88 to 172 days
color:inherit: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs.,17 min or 88 to 172 days
Contact With Others:
Works Alone: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Works with & Around Others: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Customer/Public Contact: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Clients with Behavior Challenges: Not Present
Communications:
Talking & Hearing: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs.,17 min or 88 to 172 days
Reading: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs.,18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Basic Body Positions:
Sitting & Standing: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Walking/Moving About: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Climbing, Balancing, Crouching & Kneeling: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Crawling: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Motor Skills:
Handling & Grasping: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Using Fingers: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Reaching & Feeling: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Driving: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Exposures To:
Mechanical Equipment: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Electrical, Pressurized, Burning Material Equipment: Not Present
Explosive & Radiant Energy: Not Present
Moving Equipment: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Heights: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Fumes/Odors: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Dirt/Dust: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Gases: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
See also the Physical and Environmental Factors Form.
EXAMPLES OF EQUIPMENT USED
Office computer with appropriate office software, Word, Excel, ESRI GIS, ArcGIS, AutoCAD Map, Survey Transit, Laser Level, Chainsaw, Herbicide application equipment, excavator, dump truck, and trailer.
OTHER
All listed above are essential functions of the job.
Supervision Received: Works under the general supervision of the County Engineer/Public Works Director.
Supervision Exercised: None
Labor Group: PWC
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Grade: 9
EEO Job Category: Road Maintenance & Repair
Work Comp Code:5506
Salary : $63,502 - $81,536
