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Heavy Equipment Operator

Department: Highway
Compensation: $24.35/hour-$33.71/hour DOE
Hours: 40 per week
Deadline: Tuesday, April 21, 2026


Position Objectives

This position is based out of the Red Lake Falls shop. This position includes, but is not limited to, grading and snowplowing assigned roadways with a motor grader. The position is responsible for maintaining and repairing Red Lake County roads, bridges, related structures and highway maintenance equipment to provide for the safety and adequate travel and accessibility for the public.

A County application is available at the bottom of the page. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Performs maintenance activities to ensure that the roadway systems are kept in a safe condition for the traveling public.

  • Maintains and inspects county roads, ditches, signs, culverts and related duties in all seasonal conditions.
  • Operates light and heavy equipment and tools.
  • Hauls and places gravel and bituminous on county highways and roads.
  • Performs pavement maintenance and repair.
  • Hauls and mixes sand and salt.
  • Installs/removes snow fencing.
  • Operates snowplows and other heavy equipment to remove snow, ice and storm debris from County roadways and applies ice control materials.
  • Maintains and repairs culverts, ditches, bridges, right-of-way, etc. including brush and weed control and herbicide application.
  • Assists emergency vehicles and school vehicles in inclement weather.
  • Repairs or replaces culverts.
  • Assists on special construction projects.
  • Performs excavation and backfilling of frost boils.
  • Repairs guard rails.
  • Repairs bridges.
  • Reconstructs County or Township roads.
  • Operates front-end loader, shouldering disc, tractor and mower, skid steer loader and fork lift.
  • Installs, repairs and replaces drain-tile.
  • Installs and sews fabric for road projects.
  • Operates grade stick and laser level for proper grade.
  • Removes dead animals from right-of-way and roadway.
  • Assists in installing signage.
Maintains operating equipment and tools.

  • Performs minor repairs and maintains department equipment and vehicles and ensures compliance with DOT safety regulations.
  • Rebuilds runner for snowplows.
  • Services heavy equipment such as motor grader, loader, tandem truck with pup, tractor with mower, and skid steer loader.
  • Reports need for major repairs and assists mechanic.
  • Make daily inspection for operating safety and reports repairs as necessary.
  • Modifies equipment for seasonal use.
  • Operates oil recycling machine to reuse various grades of oil.
  • Fabricates equipment for County use.
Administrative Duties.

  • Maintains knowledge of the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.”
  • Completes gas and oil sheets.
  • Completes daily time, equipment and material sheets.
  • Complies with OSHA Standards and County Safety requirements.
  • Makes inventory withdrawals on cutting edges for motor grader and plow trucks.
  • Prepares monthly fuel inventory for proper product accountability.
  • Inspects county equipment daily and completes inspection sheets.
  • Keeps maintenance service sheets up to date.
  • Checks fire extinguishers and eye wash stations.
  • Maintains knowledge of policies, rules and regulations regarding duties.
Assists survey crew on projects.

Minimum Requirements

  1. High School Diploma or equivalent; and
  2. One-year relevant experience in road maintenance/construction; OR
  3. Equivalent combination of education/training/experience.
  4. MN Class A Commercial Driver’s License.

Benefits

This is a Full-time position and is eligible for employee benefits. This is a union position with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 in which partially paid family health insurance is available. 

County benefits include:

  • PERA (Public Employee Retirement Association of Minnesota)
  • Paid life insurance policy with matching AD&D
  • Paid AD&D policy
  • Paid Vacation and Sick leave, increases with years of service
  • Paid Holidays
  • Additional voluntary benefits available to employee
Application Process:

Complete a County application, see links below.

You may submit the completed application:

  • scan and email to: Human Resources
  • mail to: RLC Highway Department 204 7th St SE Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
  • drop off at the Red Lake County Highway Department at 204 7th St SE in Red Lake Falls
Initial application deadline: Tuesday, April 21, 2026

HEO job description

Fill-in application

Word version of application

PDF version of application

Red Lake County is an equal opportunity employer
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