Kelsey Urban joins Risk Management Services as Deputy Director
Crossposted from the DES Express
Kelsey Urban is the new Deputy Director of King County’s Office of Risk Management Services.
“I’m confident that she will lead with vulnerability, compassion, collaboration and trust,” said Christine Oh, Director of Risk Management, in an email to leadership. Kelsey comes to King County from the City of Renton, where she led their risk management team for the past five years. She brings 20 years of experience in leadership, including more than ten years of service in the U.S. Navy as an officer and helicopter pilot. Read more.
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FMD plays a starring role in new film production studio
Crossposted from the DES Express
Actors, directors, producers and others from the film industry converged on the new Harbor Island Studios late last month along with members of the community to celebrate the grand opening of King County’s new film production studio. The studio, a converted flour mill in a hulking 117,000 square-foot warehouse on Harbor Island, was made possible in part by DES’ Facilities Management Division, in partnership with the Office of Economic Opportunity & Creative Economy, the Executive’s Film Advisory Board, KCIT, contractors and others. Read more.
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BIPOC Mental Health Month: Accessing culturally responsive mental health care
Balanced You recognizes the resiliency and strength within the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. We also recognize that one’s background and identities can present unique experiences, specific barriers, and opportunities to accessing mental health support; BIPOC and underrepresented communities face additional barriers including structural racism, access to quality care, and cultural stigmas.
As a King County employee, you have access to comprehensive health care coverage, including mental health coverage. We have been working with our providers to reduce barriers to access. Most employees have medical plans through either Kaiser Permanente or Regence BlueShield, both of which offer racially and ethnically diverse mental health providers. Read more about the culturally responsive mental health care available to you.
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Administrative Professionals Q2 Recognitions published
Celebrate the great work of the County’s Administrative Professionals and read about their accomplishments in the 2023 Q2 Recognitions.
King County Administrative Professionals are a large part of King County government’s workforce and valuable contributors to the success of every department. They support and provide direct services to internal customers and the public.
Administrative Professionals may include, but are not limited to, Administrative Specialists, Office Assistants, Executive Assistants, Customer Service Specialists, Dental and Medical Assistants, Court Clerks, and more.
To show your appreciation and recognize an Administrative Professional that you’ve worked with, click here.
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Eight ducklings rescued from airport storm drain
Crossposted from the DES Express
Employees at King County International Airport-Boeing Field recently rescued eight ducklings who had fallen into a shallow storm drain, reuniting all of them safely with their mother.
Thanks to Ryan Johnston, Brian Kruml, and Jadyn Saporito for the rescue.
It all started with a phone call to Airport Operations from a corporate client that a mother duck and her ducklings were walking around near a storm drain on their ramp, according to Sam Priest, Airport Duty Manager. The tenant was worried that some ducklings may have fallen into the drain. Read more.
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King County first in the nation to order new hybrid fire truck
Crossposted from the DES Express
King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA) is the first airport in the nation to finalize the purchase of a hybrid electric fire engine. The Striker Volterra 6×6 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle is made by Oshkosh Airport Products, a division of Pierce Manufacturing Inc. The new rig will complement the airport’s existing diesel-powered firefighting vehicles, also made by Oshkosh, and will allow the airport to retire its oldest diesel fire truck. Read more.
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Recognizing 37 years of service of retiring DJA Director Barb Miner
Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) Director Barb Miner is retiring after 37 years with King County. While her last official day is July 21, her last day in the office is Friday, July 14, which King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Patrick Oishi and Chief Administrative Officer Linda Ridge have proclaimed “Barb Miner Day.”
“Barb’s commitment to excellence and quality have helped shape DJA into the high performing Clerk’s Office it is today,” they said.
View the official proclamation here and congratulations Barb! Thank you for your service.
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ARFF attend live fire training in Montana
Crossposted from the King County Sheriff’s Newsletter
The King County International Airport’s Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) Team recently completely rigorous live fire training. The training was held at the esteemed Rocky Mountain Emergency Services Training Center in Helena, Montana.
During this intensive training program, the ARFF team demonstrated their excellent skills by fearlessly combating full-scale aircraft fires. Equipped with their specialized fire trucks, they showcased their proficiency in extinguishing these formidable blazes. However, their training didn’t stop there.
The team also engaged in simulated scenarios where they skillfully navigated their way into burning aircrafts. These exercises allowed them to practice crucial emergency aircraft shutdown procedures, while also honing their abilities in search and rescue operations. Their objective was to ensure the safety and well-being of any potential victims trapped within the aircraft.
This comprehensive training regimen not only serves to maintain the ARFF team’s unparalleled expertise but also fulfills a vital requirement set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It is imperative for the ARFF team to maintain their credentials, and this training plays a pivotal role in meeting those standards.
View video from the training here.
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DNRP’s Shin Yu Pai talks with disability activist Alice Wong
Shin Yu Pai is not just a storyteller for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP). Among her other accomplishments — and accolades — she’s the author of eleven books of poetry, the current Civic Poet for the City of Seattle, and host of the KUOW award-winning podcast Ten Thousand Things.
Recently, Shin Yu had a conversation for her podcast with disability activist Alice Wong, founder of the Disability Visibility Project and author of the best-selling memoir Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life. Growing up in a suburb of Indianapolis the child of Chinese immigrants, Wong was already out of place in the predominantly white, affluent community, despite her very supportive family. Her disability, which affected her from a very young age and gradually, but steadily overtook her body, only encouraged her to use her voice for others in the disabled community.
Shin Yu’s episode A voice breaks barriers is a discussion with Alice Wong about what happens “when a public personality actually loses their voice,” replacing it with an app, and “what happens to that sense of self?” Listen to the episode here.
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FSA mid-year check
We’re more than halfway through 2023, and it’s a good time to check your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) balances and take steps to make sure you spend your remaining funds before the end of the year. Here’s some additional reminders:
Health Care FSAs
- Use Health Care FSA funds to purchase summer-related items such as sunscreen, first aid kits, and prescription sunglasses.
- Schedule any necessary back-to-school check-ups and sports physicals if you have children.
- Many over-the-counter items are FSA-eligible, such as pain relievers, cold and allergy medicine, antacids, and feminine care. See the complete list of Health Care FSA Eligible & Ineligible Expenses. You can also shop online at the FSA Store.
- This year, you can roll over up to $610 of unused funds into next year. Any other remaining funds in your account are forfeited.
Day Care FSAs
- Use your Day Care FSA to pay for day care or dependent care expenses for your child under age 13, disabled spouse, or dependent parent so you can work or attend school full-time.
- Day Care FSA funds can also be used to pay eligible family members to watch your children.
- Online or virtual day cares and camps are not eligible for reimbursement, according to IRS regulations. See the complete list of Day Care FSA Eligible & Ineligible Expenses.
- If you do not use all your Day Care FSA funds within the plan year (Jan. 1—Dec. 31, 2023), any remaining funds will be forfeited.
For additional information, go to Flexible Spending Accounts. If you have questions about your FSA benefits, contact Navia Benefit Solutions at 425-452-3500 or email Navia Benefit Solutions.
Employee News 