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
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
As he retires, Officer Carlos Duell hopes he set an example for others to follow
Crossposted from the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention newsletter During 36 years on the job, Corrections Officer Carlos Duell earned a reputation as one of the department’s stalwarts. He was always quick to volunteer for extra shifts. So much so, it was almost like having two officers in one. “You know, and I’ve worked so much overtime that oftentimes people would say, ‘Hey, man, what shift are you on? Like, how do you work all these hours and not be tired?’” Duell walked out of Court Detail for the final time… Read More
King County awards $2.75 million in capital grants for food assistance providers
Recently, Executive Girmay Zahilay announced a combined $2.75 million in capital grant funding for 30 local food assistance providers and community food programs to improve food security in King County. The grants, which range from $11,000 to $450,000, will address long-term infrastructure needs and enhance the local food system. Funding will support projects ranging from facility improvements to the purchase of refrigerated vans for mobile food delivery services. “The need for food assistance in King County communities has never been greater. As the cost of groceries continues to rise, more seniors, families, and… Read More
Bumbershoot discount available for employees
King County employees can now take advantage of an admission discount to the Bumbershoot 2026 Music and Arts Festival, happening Saturday, Sept. 5 through Sunday, the 6. Employees have access to a two-day general admission and re-entry pass. Tickets would be available at a group rate of $140, which is currently a savings of $45.50 per ticket. Buy tickets here using promo code KingCounty2027. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
King County’s surface water management fee discount for low-income property owners – Apply by Sept. 15
Please share this information with friends, family or neighbors in unincorporated King County that may be eligible for a fee discount: If you qualify as a low-income household and live on your own property in unincorporated King County, you may be eligible for a 50 percent discount on the annual surface water management fee on your land parcel(s). The open period to apply is every year from Aug. 1 through Sept. 15. Learn more about the fee discount at kingcounty.gov/SWMFeeDiscount. Assistance with applying is available from Business and Finance staff by calling 206-477-4800, or… Read More
Amid extremely dry conditions, Fire Marshal issued Stage 2 burn ban in unincorporated King County
Crossposted from King County Local King County Fire Marshal Eric Urban issued a Stage 2 burn ban for unincorporated King County that went into effect at 12:01 a.m., Friday, Aug. 7. Stage 2 burn bans will be issued in neighboring incorporated cities via coordination with the King County Fire Chiefs Association and Fire Marshals. During a Stage 2 burn ban, all outdoor fires such as backyard fire pits or campfires that use chopped firewood or charcoal are prohibited. Any person with a recreational fire who fails to take immediate action to extinguish or otherwise discontinue such… Read More
Now recruiting 2026 Employee Giving Program ambassadors
Crossposted from KC Employee Giving Help drive impact as an ambassador for the Employee Giving Program. The Employee Giving Program (EGP) is now recruiting King County employees to serve as ambassadors for their work groups and sites for the 2026 Annual Giving Drive. The Employee Giving Program was established in 1988 by employees to provide employees with a means to support their favorite nonprofit organizations. It is the only authorized charitable solicitation of King County employees. King County employees can register to become an EGP Ambassador here. Since the founding of the… Read More
Opening doors to health through language access: Portraits of Public Health
Crossposted from Public Health Insider One in three residents of King County speaks a language other than English at home according to U.S. Census data. For these residents, Public Health – Seattle & King County’s small but mighty Language Access team opens doors to services and information to help them make decisions about their health for themselves and their families. We wanted to know what makes the Language Access program’s approach unique, so we talked to Claudia who manages the linguists in this program. Hi Claudia! Your team works with translators and… Read More
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