Featured Headlines
VIDEO: Interim DNRP Director Mo McBroom shares her path to public service
KCSO in the spotlight: Air support
Welcoming new neighbors: King County invests in vital support for immigrant and refugee communities
King County, Plymouth Housing, and City of Kirkland celebrate opening of new permanent supportive housing community, Sheila Stanton Place
News
Changes to recycling and confidential shredding services
Crossposted from the DES Express The supplier for confidential records destruction is now Iron Mountain. King County’s contract with Key Works/SeaDruNar for confidential document shredding has expired. The locked bins provided by Key Works/SeaDruNar were removed as part of the contract closure, and new secure bins from a new contractor were placed in various locations in county buildings. Read more.
Quick guide for parents and caretakers: What vaccines your child needs
As you prep for school or childcare, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) makes it easy to know which vaccines are required for kids. These simple charts from Washington DOH’s School and Child Care Immunizations webpage walk you through what’s needed at each age: Required Immunizations for School-aged Children and Required Immunizations for Childcare. The following blog has resources for you to check if your child is already up to date on their vaccines and more. Learn more.
Celebrating excellence: Honoring Metro’s Operator of the Year Tamieko Cook
Crossposted from Metro Matters At King County Metro, celebrating excellence in public service is one of our proudest traditions. This year, Metro proudly recognizes Tamieko Cook as our Operator of the Year. Cook was celebrated today at a ceremony at Metro’s South Base attended by King County leaders and colleagues from across the agency. General Manager Michelle Allison told those gathered: “Tamieko Cook is in a class of her own. You’ve earned this recognition not just for what you do, but for how you do it—with heart, integrity and a deep commitment… Read More
Executive Zahilay statement on Transportation Benefit District legislation
Recently, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay released the following statement after his administration transmitted new legislation that will allow the county to assume the duties and functions of the King County Transportation District (KCTD). This change is being proposed in partnership with members of the King County Council, which plays a key role in allocating and approving funding: “Maintaining safe, reliable roads and bridges and a connected regional transit system are essential to King County’s future. As part of my commitment to build a better government, my administration has examined tangible ways… Read More
Employees, test your knowledge with the King County Ethics Quiz
Crossposted from the DES Express How well do you know the King County Code of Ethics? The Ethics Program has launched a free, self-paced Ethics Quiz that employees can take anytime to test their knowledge and learn more about the county’s ethics standards. The quiz is designed to increase awareness of the Code of Ethics, the Ethics Program, and the resources available to employees. It also helps reinforce key ethics concepts, challenges your knowledge through real-world questions, and gives the Ethics Program valuable feedback about employee perspectives on ethics in King County. Ethics education is an… Read More
Airport teams up to help Department of Local Services
Crossposted from the DES Express King County is all about collaboration to solve problems. King County International Airport (KCIA) teamed up with Fleet Services to help the Road Services Division of the Department of Local Services. Roads recently needed help with about eight miles of painted markings. KCIA has a Stripe Hog machine, made by Hog Technologies, that can be used for a variety of maintenance activities including rubber removal, pavement marking removal and cleaning. The Stripe Hog uses high pressure water (up to 40,000PSI) to either clean or remove painted markings…. Read More
King County’s Metro Flex to launch in Auburn and Federal Way, bringing on-demand transit to more of South King County
King County Metro will launch two new Metro Flex pilots serving Auburn and Federal Way on Aug. 31. The pilots expand on-demand transit in South King County as part of a broader set of transit improvements made possible through the South Link Connections project. Metro Flex allows riders to book on-demand trips within designated service areas, providing connections between neighborhoods, transit hubs, jobs and other destinations. Riders can book trips through the Metro Flex app or by phone, with rides provided in Metro-operated minivans. The Auburn and Federal Way pilots will run for two years…. Read More
Reminder: Tickets at Work provides multiple discounts, including Wild Waves
Wild Waves Theme and Water Park in Federal Way is closing permanently on Nov. 1, and employees are reminded a discount exists to take advantage of one last ride. Through Tickets at Work, employees can search for Wild Waves to see a discounted ticket option starting at $49.95 per guest, ages 4+, now through Nov 1. Visit ticketsatwork.com and register with promo code KingCounty to begin accessing discounts. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
Clogged, not forgotten: The hidden reality when you flush wipes
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories It’s two in the morning when Brian White’s phone rings. A fellow operator at West Point Treatment Plant in Seattle is calling with bad news: The Hidden Lake Pump Station in Shoreline is rapidly losing capacity. If the problem continues, it could lead to a sewer overflow. Within minutes, White, an offsite wastewater operator for West Section, is out of bed and behind the wheel, heading into the darkness to protect public health and Puget Sound. Read more.
Planning ahead: Make back-to-school vaccination appointments now
Crossposted from Public Health Insider School’s about more than math quizzes and book reports. It’s where kids go to play, grow, and build community. But where kids thrive, so do germs. Enter vaccinations! Vaccinations are the body’s practice test for diseases like measles and whooping cough. That way, if the real thing shows up, kids’ immune systems know exactly what to do. Vaccinations required for school and child care Children entering school, child care, or other early learning programs are required to get certain vaccinations before they can start. Check the full list of requirements in… Read More
Celebrating 60 years of clean water operations
Crossposted from the King County Wastewater Treatment Division newsletter This year, we’re marking 60 years of operations at West Point Treatment Plant in Seattle! Today, we work 24/7 to clean more than 90 million gallons of wastewater every day, protecting public health and Puget Sound. West Point came online in 1966, following South Treatment Plant in Renton, which celebrated its 60th birthday last year. Brightwater Treatment Plant near Woodinville turns 15. View more photos on Instagram here. Pictured: An archival photo of the West Point Treatment Plant.
‘Salmon SEEson’ turns 20: Spot fish coming home to spawn in King County rivers and streams
Crossposted from DNRP Field Notes This year marks the 20th anniversary of Salmon SEEson, King County’s program helping people watch one of the Pacific Northwest’s greatest natural events; salmon returning from the open ocean to the same streams where they hatched to spawn the next generation. Each fall, chinook, coho, sockeye, and chum salmon, along with the Lake Sammamish kokanee, a native and genetically distinct freshwater population found nowhere else, make their way back to rivers and creeks throughout King County. Read more.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray secures funds to expand water taxi’s passenger-only facility in Seattle
Crossposted from the Captain’s Blog U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has announced $22.1 million for King County Metro Transit, and $7.2 million for Washington State Ferries. The funding will support expanding a passenger-only ferry facility in Seattle and operations of rural ferry routes from Anacortes to the San Juan Islands, and Port Townsend to Coupeville. The funding comes from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)’s Passenger Ferry and Rural Ferry Grant Programs. Read more.
New IT ticketing system, Neurons, now available
King County’s previous IT service management system, Cherwell, has been successfully replaced by a new system called Neurons. You can access the new Neurons system at helpdesk.kingcounty.gov. All tickets submitted before noon on Friday, Aug. 14 were automatically moved into Neurons and are now available to view or edit. A video tutorial and FAQs are now available to help employees get familiar with the new Neurons system. Watch the video on this page. If you experience any issues or need assistance with the new Neurons system, please contact the KCIT Helpdesk at 206-263-HELP.
Growing new beginnings at CitySoil Farm
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories At our CitySoil Farm at South Treatment Plant in Renton, growing culturally relevant veggies and fruits to feed the community is only part of the story. Throughout the summer, another kind of growth takes root: young people building confidence, learning new skills, and discovering new possibilities for their futures. Since 2013, Sea Mar Renacer and the King County Wastewater Treatment Division have been working together to create meaningful educational experiences for youth participating in Renacer’s rehabilitation program. Together, the partnership demonstrates how environmental stewardship and community well-being can go hand in… Read More
Danielle Hinz to lead FBOD starting Oct. 1
Crossposted from the DES Express Danielle Hinz will take the helm of the Department of Executive Services’ Finance and Business Operations Division (FBOD) on Oct. 1 after Ken Guy’s retirement. “The legacy of trust, respect and continuous improvement that Ken has built is a wonderful foundation – and why I’m in FBOD,” Hinz said. “I want to continue to build on that.” Hinz returned to the county in January 2025 as Deputy Director of FBOD after six and a half years at Amazon. Prior to that, she spent more than 20 years… Read More
King County named among the best Digital Counties in the nation
In 2026, King County once again earned national recognition by placing second in the prestigious Digital Counties Survey, presented by the Center for Digital Government in partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo). The Digital Counties Survey evaluates counties across a comprehensive set of 11 different categories, including; strategic planning, cybersecurity, data management, constituent experience, workforce readiness, IT governance, and adoption of emerging technologies like AI. KCIT plays a vital role in connecting the community to essential government services, and powering the internal systems that make daily operations possible. As agencies increasingly… Read More
Updates on the Executive Order ACO-8-32-EO Protecting Immigrants and Refugees in King County
Message from Girmay Zahilay, King County Executive Team, Like many of you, I remain deeply concerned about the impacts of increased immigration enforcement on King County residents. Families are facing fear and uncertainty, and I know some of our own employees are worried about what these actions could mean for themselves, their loved ones, their colleagues, and the communities they serve. As Executive, I want you to know what King County has been doing in response. Today, I announced that the County is making a new investment of $900,000 in a new public private partnership called the South King County Immigrant and Refugee Futures Fund to prioritize the… Read More
Cybersecurity training starts Aug. 24 – look for the email from “KnowBe4″
Starting Aug. 24, KCIT’s vendor “KnowBe4” will send an email to all employees with links to cybersecurity training. This is not a phishing attempt. Annual cybersecurity training is required for all employees and contractors with access to King County systems (even if you took it last year). Training must be completed by Feb. 19, 2027. In addition to learning cybersecurity best practices, employees will be asked to review the Acceptable Use Policy which explains expectations for using County technology responsibly. The updated policy now includes artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This year’s training also includes a brief course on… Read More
Running and repairing our system, 24/7
Crossposted from the King County Wastewater Treatment Division newsletter We’re in the second construction season of our Effluent Pump Station Gate Rehabilitation project at West Point Treatment Plant in Seattle! Last year, crews replaced one of four large gates, each about 8 feet by 8 feet and nearly 40 feet underground. This year, they’re replacing the remaining three. These gates allow us to take individual pumps offline for maintenance without shutting down the entire system that sends fully treated wastewater safely to Puget Sound. That means safer, easier maintenance and a more… Read More
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