KCIT successfully transitions the new PSERN emergency radio system core
KCIT recently transitioned to the new Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN) system core, which will help provide more effective and coordinated emergency responses in King County.
The PSERN Project’s dispatch center and core cutover was an important milestone because it replaced components that were unsupported by the manufacturer due to their age. The PSERN core is the “brains” of the system composed of servers, switches, routers, databases, storage units, and radio components. In essence, it is a large data center dedicated to managing the radio network primarily used by emergency personnel to coordinate incident responses.
Additionally, 17 dispatch centers and over 130 consoles were successfully transitioned at the King County Sheriff’s Office, NE King County Regional Public Safety Communication Agency (NORCOM), Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Police Department, and Valley Communications (Valley Com). All King County first responders are now dispatched through the new PSERN consoles.
Over 40 million calls a year go through the current KCERCS emergency system; many of these are dispatch communications from 911 call centers. The PSERN Project is replacing the aging KCERCS system to ensure reliability. KCERCS is very near capacity; PSERN will significantly enhance capacity to get us through the next two decades. Transitioning to the new PSERN core has taken pressure off the most crucial parts of the network by implementing fully supported equipment and upgraded dispatch center consoles, plus adding more consoles to accommodate population growth.
“Since the KCERCS network was implemented, population centers have shifted east in King County,” says Ellen Whitely, KCIT’s External Affairs Program Manager for the PSERN Project. “The new PSERN network will provide coverage in areas that KCERCS does not.”
The PSERN Project is a voter-approved effort to upgrade and expand the current King County Emergency Radio Communications System (KCERCS) that is scheduled to wrap up in December 2022. King County is the lead agency for the new emergency radio system development. When complete, a new nonprofit entity, the PSERN Operator, will manage the system.
This major milestone was a success due to the hard work of KCIT, KCERCS, Motorola, the PSERN team, and the dispatch centers. Go to www.psern.org for more details about the project.
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Thank you from Employee Giving Program – Last Day of the Annual Giving Drive
Dear fellow King County employee,
In the midst our work, our families, the planning, schooling, cooking, finding new routines, and doing what we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are encouraged to stop and take a moment next week to celebrate all those very precious people and things we have in our lives.
This year, I am thankful for the extra time with my children. While it is hard balancing all the things, I am getting to see parts of them I didn’t know before. They are showing me how to persevere through this time with a new perspective. I am grateful for the chance to run again and that my body is able. I am grateful that we work with some of the best Public Health professionals in the nation, who are working tirelessly for all of us. And, I am thankful for all of you.
And, as we give thanks for all that we have, there will be thousands of people who will also be giving Thanks for you.
Thanks to you, 400 people from low-income households accessed medical care.
Thanks to you, 400,000 meals were put on the table this year for families in need.
Thanks to you, a star of hope is shining bright for our communities when we need it most.
As a reminder, if you are making a donation of eligible Vacation or Compensatory time, please remember that today, November 20, 2020, is a firm deadline, and one of the benefits of PeopleSoft is that donations can be made from home.
Every year hundreds of hours of time have to be turned away because they come in after the deadline and were not able to be processed. Click here to learn more about giving time.
The best way to ensure that your pledge reaches us in time this year is to do one of the following:
- Fill out a paper form and then scan and email to employeegiving@kingcounty.gov; or
- Go online in PeopleSoft and complete.
To share what you are thankful for or to receive personal assistance, please go to the Employee Giving Program website at www.kingcounty.gov/giving, call 206-263-9405, or email employeegiving@kingcounty.gov. We have Zoom office hours from 11 a.m. to noon today.
We all do something in some way to give back to our communities not only through the EGP but also outside of the workplace. Your efforts are admirable and why we continue to work for ways to support you in all the ways you give. Thank you to all the amazing employees who have given their talent and time as volunteers at their worksite. Thank you to leadership that has been supportive of these efforts and have led by example. Thank you to every single one of you.
Gratefully,
Junelle Kroontje
Employee Giving Program Manager
P.S. as the saying goes, “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something” Every small act adds up to a huge something
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Staying safer as COVID-19 infection rates increase
Dear employee,
Nationally and locally our Public Health agencies are reporting an increase in COVID-19 infection rates in communities. This escalation in infections is also reflected in our work community, with increasing numbers of employees testing positive for COVID-19 or reporting significant exposure to those who have tested positive. Temporary statewide restrictions announced by the Governor are in place to help reduce the rate of infections.
Workplace exposure
The County continues to review workplace exposures where employees report that they have tested positive for COVID-19. County staff conduct workplace contract tracing on reported cases and notify co-workers who may have had close contact with an infected person at work, which would include those who been within six feet of a person with confirmed COVID-19 for about 15 minutes (consecutively or combined over a 24-hour period).
With regard to identifying co-workers who may have had COVID-19 exposures, state and federal laws protect the privacy of personal health information. We limit the access and amount of information shared to only what is operationally needed and don’t divulge personally identifying information generally. In some cases, the absence of a specific employee combined with notification to close workplace contacts may reveal the identity of a confirmed or suspected case.
While we are taking appropriate actions and providing notice to co-workers who may have been exposed, we are careful to avoid identifying individuals where possible.
Upcoming holidays – Protecting yourselves and others
Unfortunately, it is common now to hear about people that may be positive or who have been exposed to COVID-19. We all have to assume there is a risk of exposure in any public spaces and follow appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), hygiene, and social distancing measures at work or in other spaces, especially masking requirements.
Testing facilities currently have limited capacity and reserving that capacity is important for reducing infection rates. Employees should seek testing if they are symptomatic or have had a significant exposure. Employees should not seek testing at this time if they do not have a current risk in order to preserve testing resources.
County workers are encouraged to follow state and national guidelines to keep themselves, loved ones, and our community safer by avoiding holiday gatherings and other public spaces and events.
First responders and employees delivering in-person services continue to do extraordinary work. Teleworkers have embraced new technology and remote service delivery, helping to limit the number of people in County facilities and on roads and transit. Maintaining our vigilance against the virus remains critical to slowing its spread.
Information for employees about COVID-19 and the workplace is available here. Guidance and restrictions on holiday events and public gatherings is available here. Visit Public Health’s COVID-19 website for tips to stay healthy and other up-to-date information.
Let’s all work together to reduce the impact of this virus on friends, family, healthcare, and other emergency workers, and on our workplace community. Stay home, stay safe.
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Investor relations website launched
King County’s first-ever Investor Relations website is now live. The site, maintained by a third-party vendor, BondLink, greatly improves the potential investor experience with links in one place to Official Statements, ratings, budgets, Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs), policies and more.
With voters approving a $1.74 billion bond measure for capital improvements at King County-owned Harborview Medical Center, the website comes at the perfect time.
“We are hoping King County sees an increase in the pool of potential investors and bidders by leveraging the BondLink communication functionality,” said Carol Basile, Treasury Manager.
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Stay informed in inclement weather
Getting timely, accurate information in an emergency or inclement weather event is critical. Make sure you’re getting the latest King County information on how you are affected, at work and at home:
- KCInform: Make sure you can be reached in a major emergency. If you haven’t yet registered your County provided mobile phones and employees personal contact information in KCInform, please contact kcinform@kingcounty.gov anytime or 206-296-3830 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday to request your unique registration link. Watch this short video to learn more or visit our website.
- Call the Employee Hotline—206-205-8600 (save it to your phone now).
- Check your King County email for specific directives and updates. Log on at outlook.kingcounty.gov.
- Contact your supervisor for instructions.
- Visit kcemployees.com for the latest employee information.
- Follow King County on Twitter—@kcemployees, @KingCountyWA, and @kcmetrobus.
- Check your agency website or Intranet (if applicable).
- Visit the Emergency News page at www.kcemergency.com for regional impacts and monitor local media channels.
HR Policies: When an agency remains open, but conditions prevent you from reporting to work or from reporting on time, notify your supervisor as soon as possible. You may request leave, subject to approval by your supervisor. If you have no leave accrued, your supervisor may approve leave without pay to cover absences. Sick leave may not be used. Refer to HR Bulletin 2011-0009 County Operations During Emergency Situations and Inclement Weather (Sheriff’s Office employees refer to KCSO Inclement Weather Policy. Superior Court and District Court employees please check court policies).
Always have a plan if you need to commute in inclement weather, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making travel decisions.
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More than 500 nurses urge King County to confront the surge
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
In the midst of an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases, more than 500 King County nurses are issuing an urgent call to renew efforts to turn around this troubling trend.
“It’s been a tough year, and we’ve all sacrificed so much to stay safe. But now, with cases skyrocketing in King County, it’s more important than ever to stop the spread,” reads the nurses’ message, published Sunday in a special wrap-around section of the Seattle Times.
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Prepare now for winter weather
As we approach winter, now is a great time to ensure you are well-prepared for an emergency or inclement weather at home or work.
Taking a few steps now to plan ahead will give you peace of mind and help you make good decisions in an emergency:
- There are many online resources that you can use to make sure you and your family have what you need to Make it Through an emergency – from an extended power outage to a more severe event. Please take personal preparedness seriously.
- If your child is attending school or daycare in-person, learn about their school or daycare policies and procedures for possible early release and facility closures.
- Locate flashlights, radio, and extra batteries should you experience a power outage at home.
- Store non-perishable meals for your family that don’t require a stove-top, microwave, or oven to prepare, and keep plenty of bottled water on hand.
- Make sure pets have appropriate shelter to stay warm and safe.
- Get more tips, utility contacts, and weather preparedness checklists at www.takewinterbystorm.org.
Always have a plan if you need to commute in inclement weather, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making travel decisions.
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Training Spotlight for November 19
- Communication and Problem Solving Skills – Online – Join instructor Lenny Borer for this two-day training. He will address communication and problem-solving skills with the public and with co-workers. This class covers skills for effective listening, speaking, dealing with conflicts, and dealing with defensive behavior. This training is $65 and space is limited. It takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 8 and 9, both days from 1-4:30 p.m. Register here.
Please visit our King County Eventbrite page website for more opportunities. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
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Medical benefits for transgender employees
King County provides comprehensive benefits and services to support the health and well-being of eligible employees, retirees, and their dependents, and now offers enhanced medical benefits for transgender employees.
Starting Jan. 1, 2020, King County expanded its medical plans’ coverage policies for transgender employees and their covered family members. King County has covered gender confirmation surgery and hormone replacement since 2015, but starting in 2020, we are covering additional gender-affirming procedures and treatments to comply fully with World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards, including procedures most insurers exclude.
This week, during Transgender Awareness Week, we want to remind employees of the enhanced medical benefits available for transgender employees. King County medical plans now provide employees and their covered family members with comprehensive healthcare coverage to support them if they choose to transition physically.
King County was the first public sector employer in Washington to cover these expanded services, and offering these benefits is an important step in our efforts to build a truly welcoming and inclusive workplace, and an example of living our values and True North.
If you have questions about these – or any of your employee benefits – please contact the Benefits Team at 206-684-1556 or KC Benefits.
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2020 Employee Giving Drive spotlight and reminder for last chance to donate
The 2020 Employee Giving Drive ends tomorrow, Nov. 20. This week, we are featuring nonprofits that support the arts in our community:
- Hilltop Artists (9032) – We use glass art to connect young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds to better futures through art instruction, wrap around services, and mentoring to 650 youth.
- 5th Avenue Theatre (9631) – We develop, produce and present live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community; preserve, maintain, and operate the historic 5th Avenue Theatre.
- Northwest African American Museum (9737) – We celebrate and explore the histories, arts, and cultures of people of African descent through exhibitions, programs and events.
See all participating nonprofits.
Go online or use a paper form and pledge to support your favorite Employee Giving Program nonprofits. There are many ways to donate:
- Payroll donation: One-time, once–per-month, or twice-per-month.
- Time donation: Eligible vacation or comp time. See your department Lead Ambassador for details in your office.
- Check or credit card: Made out directly to the nonprofit.
- Volunteering: Up to three sick days per calendar year at a nonprofit in the EGP (for non-represented and employees whose union has approved this benefit, including those covered by the Master Labor Agreement).
For more information, contact your Employee Giving Program Ambassador, visit www.kingcounty.gov/giving, email EmployeeGiving@kingcounty.gov, call 206-263-9405, or attend an online Nonprofit Expo.
Employee News 