This document discusses Manatee County Public Works' career ladder program for its field maintenance division employees. It aims to provide structured training, increase retention of skilled workers, and maximize resources. The county has over 750 square miles and maintains over 1,300 miles of roads. The field maintenance division has 107 employees across road and drainage maintenance sections. The career ladder has 4 steps from trainee to senior technician, providing training, responsibility increases, and 5% pay raises at each step over 5 years. Training includes safety, equipment operation, and maintenance skills. Supervisors track training completion to ensure proficiency. The program benefits planning, budgeting, succession, and employees' career development with increased pay.

2. Presented by:
Danny Smith
Manatee County Public Works
Field Maintenance Division Manager

4. Manatee County Has…
743 Square Miles
360,000 Residents
1361 Paved Centerline Miles
80 Miles of Shell Road
655 Miles of Roadside Ditch
122 Miles of Stormwater Pipe
88 DOT Bridges, 100+ Non Bridges
And adding more daily…

5. Manatee County Public Works
Field Operations
Field Maintenance Division
Fleet Services Division
Fuel/Inventory Division
Transit
Engineering Services
Highway, Construction, Infrastructure, Utility Engineering
Project Management, Project Inspection
Traffic Management
Traffic Operations
Transportation Planning
Traffic Design

6. Manatee County
Field Maintenance Division
107 Full Time Employees (84 PWMTs)
Road Maintenance Section
Road Surface, sidewalk, and ROW Maintenance
50 employees
Drainage Maintenance Section
All Stormwater Drainage Maintenance
Canals, Ditches, Pipes
34 employees

8. Why a Career Ladder?
Manatee County Public Works utilizes the Career
Ladder as an effective tool for:
Planning, Budgeting and Documenting
Employee Training
Increasing the retention rate of quality
employees
Building Safety and Accountability into Job
Duties
Maximizing Resources

9. We Have Always Done it This Way…
In the Good Old Days…
Had 7 positions, we now have 1, with 4 steps, we have a
single all encompassing position description
Training was hit or miss, creating problems including
subjective attendance selection and budgeting WAGs
Struggled with longevity, good staff left, those that stayed
were promoted, little incentive to consider a career
Dealt with, “Not my Job”, “I’m an equipment Operator not
a laborer”, “I haven’t been trained”

10. New Hire Placement
All new employees start as a Public Works
Maintenance Tech Trainee
Tech I training + 1 year = Tech 1
Tech II training + 2 years = Tech II
Tech III training + 3 years = Tech III
Tech III training + 5 year = Senior Tech
Previous experience does count!

11. Besides the Title….
Training is provided at no cost to the
employee
Each step provides a 5% pay increase
Each progressive step comes with more
responsibility, expectation, and
accountability

12. Maintenance & Tracking
Supervisors are the primary “owners.” They:
Maintain a “training file” for each employee
they supervise. The file tracks
Training Completion
Needs
Renewal / Refresher Dates (CDL,IMOT)
Conduct quarterly reviews with each
employee
Are accountable for providing opportunity
and awareness

13. How Does it Work?
Four levels with progressively more technical training
which consists of:
Class Room Based Instruction
Video Instruction (T2)
Instructor led: IMOT, Confined Space
No Certificate, No Credit
Demonstration of Proficiency
Task and Equipment Operation Oriented
Hands On
Training Time Provided and Required
Complete Demonstration of Proficiency as Described
Independent Supervisor Validation Required
Independent Study – Senior Tech

14. Training Providers

15. Maintenance Technician Levels

16. Skill Set Level I
Safety, Safety, Safety for them and our
equipment. Learn how to perform the basics
Rural Road Operations
Flagging
Urban Streets
Intersection Work
Low Speed Streets
Pedestrian Safety

18. Skill Set Level I
Equipment/Tool Concepts & Safety
Chainsaw Safety
Commercial Driver License (B) we
provide training and internal
testing…and we pay for it
Dump Truck Operation & Maintenance

19. Skill Set Level I
Demonstration of Proficiency
Common Tools
Generator
Jack Hammer
Cutoff Saw
Trash/Mudhog Pumps
Cement Mixer
Soil Compaction
Flatbed / Dump Truck Safe Operation

20. Skill Set Level I
Demonstration of Proficiency
Chainsaw Operation
Determining and Donning PPE
correctly
Locating Marked Utilities
Site Cleanup

21. Skill Set Level II
Required Training
The Training Focuses On:
Asphalt Pavement Repair
Asphalt Paving
Equipment Operation and Safety

23. Skill Set Level II
Classroom Training
Asphalt Surface Treatments
Asphalt Paving and Compaction Equipment
Operation
Soil Stabilization in Clay Soils
Portland Cement Concrete Flatwork
Forklift Operation Safety

24. Skill Set Level II
Equipment/Tool Concepts and Safety
Backhoe/Loader Safety
Track Excavator Safety
Confined Space Certification
Front End Loader Safety
Skid Steer Loader Safety

25. Skill Set Level II
Demonstration of Proficiency
Front End Loader-General
Levels and Lasers - Establish Grade
Brush Chipper
Confined Space Equipment

26. Skill Set Level II
Demonstration of Proficiency
Sod Placement/Staking
Silt Fence Installation
Requesting Utility Locates
Building Concrete Forms for Flat Work
Installing Rip Rap

27. Skill Set Level III
Training Skilled Labor:
Structure and Asset Repair
Drainage Operations/Erosion Control
Equipment Operation and Safety

28. Skill Set Level III
Classroom Training
Right of Way Mowing Safety
Shoulder and Roadside Ditch Maintenance
Guardrail Installation
FDOT MOT Intermediate Level Training and
Certification (IMOT)
Reinforced Portland Cement Concrete
Inspection
Stormwater Pipe Installation

30. Skill Set Level III
Demonstration of Proficiency
Jet Vac-Flusher Trucks or
Street Sweepers or
Flexwing Mower or
Boom Mower

31. Skill Set Level III
Demonstration of Proficiency
Installation of Catch Basins
Form/Pour/Finish Mitered Headwalls
Form/Pour/Finish Driveway Aprons and
Sidewalk Sections

32. Skill Set Level III
Demonstration of Proficiency
Installation of Guardrail
Placement and Removal of Stormwater
Pipe
Backhoe (Rubber Tire) OR
Walking Excavator MENZI MUCK

34. Skill Set Level Senior
Classroom Training
Learning to be the Lead:
Soils: Erosion and Stabilization
Legal Concerns
Administrative Responsibilities
Project / Event Management

35. Skill Set Level Senior
Required Training
FEMA IS-100
FEMA IS-200
FEMA IS-700
HAZMAT Endorsement **
Trenching and Shoring

36. Skill Set Level Senior
Required Training
FDEP Stormwater Erosion and Sedimentation
Control Inspector Certification
Graded Road Maintenance, 80+ miles of shell
roads !
Tort Liability – Field Responsibility

38. Skill Set Level Senior
Demonstration of Proficiency
Rubber Tire Excavator (Gradall) OR
Track Excavator
Forming/Pouring/Finishing Miami & “F”
Curbing or Structures
Assessment of Drainage Problems

39. Skill Set Level Senior
Demonstration of Proficiency
Drainage Box Repair & Maintenance
Grading Ditches and Canals
Set-Up and Breakdown of MOT
Cave-In Diagnosis and Repair

41. Skill Set Level Senior
Demonstration of Proficiency
Capstone Project - Administrative and
Computer Application
Incident and Accident Reporting – Following
County Procedure
Using Historical and Geographic Information to
plan work, verify ownership. Locate, Interpret,
and Use (Maps & Plats)
Maintenance Project Estimating
Incorporate MOT, Drainage Assessment
and other proficiencies into project.
Comprehensive

42. How do we benefit?
Ease of Planning and Budgeting, we know what is
needed and have a plan
Large Classes, Training comes to us
Participation in all training is mandatory, employees are
trained and capable
The Division only has Maintenance Techs, elimination of
specialized positions, i.e. Equipment Operators
Succession Plan that HR does not realize is a Succession
Plan
Relatively low cost program, excluding pay increases,
< $2000/employee over a 5 year period.

43. How does Staff Benefit
“Light at the end of Tunnel” for field staff, no longer a
dead end job
5% step increase for each level completed. This is not
budget constrained and not tied to any Market
Adjustment or Performance Based Increase. Employee
has the opportunity for a 20% pay increase in 5 years.
Relevant and Valuable Training at no cost to them
Opportunity to Showcase themselves and their skills

44. What’s Next?
Evaluate Program
Is offered training still relevant and
applicable?
HAZMAT Endorsement or OSHA 10 Hour?
Does the order of training need to change,
IMOT at Trainee Level?
Loader Training and Proficiency to Tech I?
Can we do it at a lower cost?

46. Questions & Contact Information
Danny Smith
Danny.smith@mymanatee.org
941-708-7494