What are the responsibilities and job description for the Highway Commissioner position at Jackson County, WI?
POSITION SUMMARY
This position receives administrative direction from the County Highway Committee, setting own standards in working within overall policies, goals and budget limits, with direct accountability for final results. Responsible for the construction and maintenance of all highways, roads, bridges and public areas including the design of new highway construction. There is significant interaction with the State Department of Transportation, state and federal legislators, community leaders, the County Board, the County Highway Committee, the Sheriff's Department, and residents of the County. Decisions within the area of responsibility are made independently.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Evaluates Highway Department financial status and obligations. Develops, presents and administers the Highway Department budget
- Works with Town Boards and Municipal Officers, and Representatives of the state and federal government regarding the construction and maintenance of highways in the Counties
- Estimates costs of proposed highway and bridge projects, and applies for state and federal aid
- Attends Committee and Board meetings
- Drafts or oversees the designs, drawings and specifications for construction and maintenance of highways and bridges
- Plans, assigns and supervises the work of highway construction and maintenance crews
- Drafts and continually updates the five-year county highway improvement plans
- Drafts specifications for the purchase of highway equipment
- Responds to public inquiries and complaints
- Secures right-of-way lands for bridges and road construction
- Meets with Legislators, DNR Representatives and DOT Representatives and responds to proposed legislation, DNR rules and DOT policy
- Secures funding by writing grant applications
- Maintains records and makes reports incidental to department operations
- Develops work schedules; authorizes leave, vacation, and overtime; conducts employee performance evaluations; participates in disciplinary matters and recruitment procedures as necessary
- Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws throughout the department
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, civil engineering or related field
- Ten (10) years' experience, including 6 years of supervisory experience, in construction/maintenance, design and repair of highways and bridges
- Equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED TO PERFORM JOB
- Knowledge of civil and highway engineering principles and practices
- Knowledge of laws, standards, and ordinances applied to highway and bridge construction, maintenance and repair
- Knowledge of road and bridge repair and maintenance procedures and equipment
- Knowledge of hazards and safety precautions of the work, and methods for promoting safety among the employees
- Knowledge of effective supervisory principles and practices
- Knowledge of grant writing and grant administration
- Knowledge of personal computer operations with word processor and spreadsheet software to include Microsoft Office
- Ability to effectively plan, assign and supervise work of a large number of employees
- Ability to meet the public and deal with elected persons
- Ability to learn specialized software applications and programs as required
- Ability to read and interpret documents, and laws in the English language
- Ability to listen to and understand information and ideas in spoken and written format so individuals may effectively understand and convey communications
- Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations
- Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public
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Ability to maintain accurate and complete records of field activities
Ability to prepare written reports and summaries of field operations - Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
- Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent
- Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form
- Inductive and deductive reasoning – ability to combine separate pieces of information, or specific answers to problems, to form general rules or conclusions; includes coming up with a logical explanation for why a series of seemingly unrelated events occur together and deciding if an answer makes sense
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Directly supervises Accountant/Office Manager and Operations Manager/Patrol Superintendent. Indirectly supervises all other Highway Department personnel.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
- Possess and maintain valid Wisconsin Driver's License; Wisconsin Commercial Driver's License, preferred
- Certification from the FHWA/NHI Bridge Inspection Course within two years of hire
HIPAA RESPONSIBILITY
All members of the workforce have a responsibility to watch for unauthorized use or disclosures of Protected Health Information (PHI), to act to prevent the action, and to report suspected breaches of privacy and security policies to their supervisor, or to the Privacy or Security Officer (example of a breach: member or visitor looking through a claim or personal information left on a desk).
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects; reach with hands and arms, hear and talk. The employee may be required to run, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, balance, taste and smell. May seldom be required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
BENEFIT SUMMARY:
Health Insurance Employee Contribution 2025:
Plan 1 - Quartz HMO:
Premium Employee Share - 11%
Family - $2,237.02/month $ 123.03/pay period
Single - $ 981.36/month $ 53.97/pay period
SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES UNION:
Premium Employee Share - 12%
Family - $2,237.02/month $ 134.22/pay period
Single - $ 981.36/month $ 58.88/pay period
Plan 2 - Quartz HSA:
Premium Employee Share
Family - $1,992.72/month $ 89.67/pay period
Single - $ 874.19/month $ 39.34/pay period
SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES UNION:
Premium Employee Share
Family - $1,992.72/month $119.56/pay period
Single - $ 874.19/month $ 52.45/pay period
Vision - VSP 2025
Family - $11.22/ pay period
Employee 1 - $6.82/ pay period
Employee & Child - $ 6.96/ pay period
Single Plan - $ 3.83/ pay period
Dental Insurance 2025: Employee Share – 50%
Premium Employee Share
Family Plan - $80.93/month $ 20.23/ pay period
Single Plan - $28.40/month $ 7.10/ pay period
Life Insurance: County paid for employee equal to yearly salary. Additional coverage and coverage for spouse and dependents are available at additional cost.
Deferred Compensation Plans: Two plans are available.
Voluntary Accident/Cancer/Critical Illness Insurance: Employer will contribute $10 per month towards the plan.
ID Protection
State Retirement: Employer match 50%
Sick Leave: 1 day per month - accumulating
Vacation: General Employees: 10 days during years 1 & 2 to a maximum of 25 days after 21 years
Managers: 15 days per year during 1st – 6th years of service; to a maximum of 25 days
Jail/Dispatch: 12 days during years 1-5 to a maximum of 25 days after 21 years
Holidays: Non-Law Enforcement: 9 specific and 1 floating
Law Enforcement: 10 personal days in lieu of holidays
This benefit summary is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as an implied contract of employment.
Salary : $4 - $11
