Drainage & Environmental Compliance Specialist

Department/Division:  Environmental, Planning & Zoning                                                                                                                                                                     FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt

 

General Definition of Work

Performs advanced professional work managing the maintenance, improvement, and compliance of county drainage systems and environmental regulations. The Drainage & Environmental Compliance Specialist serves as the primary liaison for landowners, contractors, and government entities, addressing inquiries and coordinating activities related to drainage systems, including bidding processes, maintenance work, and regulatory compliance. The position facilitates the work of the County Drainage Authority by setting agendas, managing projects, and ensuring that all work complies with relevant Federal, State, and local standards. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Deputy Zoning Administrator. 

 Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The below listed statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Essential Functions

Drainage Authority Duties

• Manages landowner inquiries/petitions on maintenance or improvement work.
  
  
  
  • Serves as first and main point of contact for landowners seeking work to be done on a county drainage system.
  
  
  • Coordinates with the County Ditch Inspector to conduct site visits as needed based on landowner inquiries.
  
  
  • Advises and informs landowners of protocols and procedures in which work will be conducted (e.g. formal petitions and requests).
  
  
  • Contact legal counsel, as needed, to resolve landowner issues. 
  
  
  
  


• Manages bidding and construction process.
  
  
  
  • Manage all vendor relationships (e.g. mowing, spraying, repair, etc.)
  
  
  • Seeking bids from contractors when work needs to be done. 
  
  
  • Bringing bids to the County Administration and/or Drainage Authority for action.
  
  
  • Informing contractors of winning bids and scheduling work.
  
  
  • Ensure projects meet all Federal, State and local design and construction standards, guidelines and permits. 
  
  
  
  


• Manage the County drainage committee
  
  
  
  • Set agendas and facilitate monthly meetings with County drainage committee.
  
  
  
  


• Present information to the drainage authority/Board of Commissioners for potential actions.
  
  
  
  • Create annual work plans for reviewing and surveying County ditch systems for vegetation and brush control and compliance.
  
  
  • Maintain action plans for current and future repairs and/or proposed ditches projects.
  
  
  • Coordinates annual spraying and mowing operations along County drainage systems. 
  
  
  
  


• Conduct drone flights of the County ditch system.
  
  
  
  • Plan and execute drone flights, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations.
  
  
  • Perform pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight safety checks to ensure the drone is in good working condition.
  
  
  • Operate cameras and other equipment to gather data and capture images or videos.
  
  
  • Coordinate with County GIS staff to develop and maintain GIS maps and databases for all drainage systems. 
  
  
  
  


• Grant writing.
  
  
  
  • Research, prepare, and submits grant applications by identifying activities, functions, or policy issues suitable for grants, sourcing special funding, developing and refining information for submissions. Coordinating with other departments to develop grant proposals. 
  
  
  
  


• Data Administration.
  
  
  
  • In coordination with ditch inspector and Auditor-Treasurer, maintain detailed records of pertinent ditch system, project activities, including, but not limited to, inspection reports, the contractor’s daily operations, quantities of material received or used, survey and inspection notes, material test results, elevations and/or locations of project installations.
  
  
  • Maintain a computer database and electronic files, accurately documenting all relevant ditch system information.
  
  
  • Manage and update all ditch-related forms and records.
  
  
  • Update and present drainage manual policies.
  
  
  
  


• Communication Duties.
  
  
  
  • Develop fact sheets, brochures, and other correspondence to support drainage system functions and address law changes.
  
  
  • Serve as main point of contact with other Government entities (e.g. State and Federal agencies. neighboring counties, etc.).
  
  
  • Act as the primary point of contact for drainage engineers, facilitating communication between project teams, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies to ensure the successful planning, design, and implementation of drainage systems. This includes organizing meetings, providing updates, and addressing any concerns or issues that arise during the project lifecycle.  
  
  
  
  

Environmental Services Duties 

• Conduct drone flights of the applicable development projects (gravel pits, grading projects, etc.) to ensure permit compliance.
  
  
  
  • Plan and execute drone flights, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations.
  
  
  • Perform pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight safety checks to ensure the drone is in good working condition.
  
  
  • Operate cameras and other equipment to gather data and capture images or videos.
  
  
  • Process collected data and coordinate with County P&Z staff to review applicable projects and ensure annual compliance.
  
  
  
  


• Conduct investigations and address complaints to ensure compliance with requirements and regulations.
  
  
  
  • Respond to public inquiries and if needed, conduct site visits to investigate potential code violations based on complaints or proactive inspections.
  
  
  • Document violations, determine corrective measures, and performs follow-up investigations.
  
  
  • Maintain detailed records and actions taken and, when needed, prepare cases for court.
  
  
  • Work with other departments and agencies to address code enforcement issues and coordinate efforts.
  
  
  • Informs regulatory authorities of non-compliance.
  
  
  • Educate property owners and the public about code requirements and best practices for compliance.
  
  
  
  


• Stormwater Construction Compliance.
  
  
  
  • Inspect construction sites to ensure compliance with erosion control and stormwater regulations.
  
  
  • Document violations, determine corrective measures, and perform follow-up investigations.
  
  
  • Maintain detailed records and actions taken and, when needed, prepare cases for court.
  
  
  • Manage construction compliance for stormwater BMP’s, ensuring adherence to environmental and regulatory requirements, including stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPP), environmental policies and procedures, and National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 
  
  
  
  


• Performs other related functions as apparent or assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Must possess good/strong oral and written communication, organizational and presentation skills.

Ability to work in various weather conditions.

Ability to create various documents and presentation that will be needed to cary out job responsibilities.

Ability to compare, differentiate, measure, sort, assemble, decipher, and transcribe data and information.

Ability to understand and perform required reporting at the County, State, and Federal levels.  Reporting includes budgets, financial records, invoices, receipts, contracts, vouchers, and any other required documentation that is deemed necessary.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County staff, elected officials, contractors, engineers, consultants, local government units, educators, state and federal agencies, nonprofits, and general public.

General knowledge of GIS.

General knowledge of legal descriptions.

General knowledge of standard office equipment and Microsoft programs.

Thorough knowledge of local, state and federal mandates and statutes regulating wetlands, shoreland and water management.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in water resource management, environmental studies, urban studies, planning, natural resources, conservation, agriculture, biology, or related field, and 1 year experience working in natural resources, conservation, or planning & zoning; OR

Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; frequent exposure involving hazardous conditions or situations; work regularly requires speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires sitting and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work requires color perception; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires working near moving mechanical parts and exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic). 

Special Requirements

Obtain and maintain FAA Part 107 Certification within one (1) year of date of hire.

Obtain and maintain Construction Stormwater Certification within one (1) year of date of hire.

Obtain and maintain Erosion and Stormwater Management certification within two (2) years of date of hire.

Obtain and maintain Design of Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans certification within two (2) years of date of hire.

Ability to maintain required certifications through ongoing continuing education.

Must comply with all federal and state laws and organizational and departmental policies and regulations. 

Participates in Professional Staff Development. Participates in training and education opportunities to maintain and improve proficiency.

Interacts with agents and departments from other counties and states to learn about and maintain professionalism.

Other Requirements

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. 

Minimum Qualifications

1. Valid Driver’s License in the State of Minnesota.


2. Bachelor's Degree & 1 year experience working in related field OR equivalent combination of education & experience. 

 

 

Salary/Benefits: Salary Range is $32.23-$44.62 per hour plus health insurance, life insurance, retirement plan, vacation/sick/holiday pay and many other voluntary benefits. 

 

Contact information: 

Sarah Pint 

Le Sueur County Human Resources 

88 S. Park Avenue, Le Center, MN  56057 

Telephone: 507-357-8579 -  Fax: 507-357-8607 

Email: hr@lesueurcounty.gov

 

Deadline:  Open until filled. Reviewing applications December 2, 2024. 

 

 Equal Opportunity Employer