Photo essay: Fall City On-Site Septic project enters a new phase
Crossposted from King County Local
Complex infrastructure projects are really cool. They are even cooler when they fundamentally change a community in the best possible way.
Right now, the Department of Local Services is halfway through building out the Fall City On-Site Septic system project that will fundamentally change the economy in this Snoqualmie Valley community.
Simply put, the state-of-the-art septic system means local businesses – which sit at the confluence of two pristine rivers – can safely flush more, wash more dishes and laundry, and put more material down the garbage disposal without worry. After decades of economic stagnation, businesses can expand in an environmentally safe and consistently reliable way. Read more.
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May 18-24 2025 is National Emergency Medical Services Week
King County Executive Shannon Braddock has declared May 18-24, 2025, as Emergency Medical Services Week in King County.
“This is in recognition of the value and the accomplishments of our emergency medical services personnel throughout our region,” she said.
EMS Week is a time to honor emergency medicine’s frontline workers who provide lifesaving services in our community – day and night. Our own Medic One/EMS system in King County has been called “one of the world’s best” which can be directly attributed to the dedication and skill of the EMTs, paramedics and telecommunicators in the region. EMS Week reminds us to recognize and appreciate the efforts of those who heed the call from those in need, whatever and wherever the emergency.
View the official proclamation here.
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Drug incidents down 35%
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Drug incident reports on or near King County Metro decreased by more than one-third from 2023 to 2024. The positive trend coincides with the transit agency reinforcing expectations of riders, and encouraging employees and riders to report incidents.
In 2023, there were 1,578 drug-related incidents reported on or near Metro (e.g., buses, bus stops, transit centers, etc.). That represented roughly one incident per 49,000 boardings.
In 2024, there were 1,022 drug-related incidents reported, which represented about one incident per 80,000 boardings.
“More than 300,000 riders take Metro every weekday because it’s frequent, reliable, safe and clean,” said King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “There is more work to do toward our goal of zero incidents, but this encouraging data—as well as supportive feedback from riders and Metro employees—show we’re moving in the right direction.” Read more.
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Honoring those who served and their sacrifices this Memorial Day
Dear fellow King County employee,
As we prepare to observe Memorial Day, I want to take a moment to recognize the profound significance of this day.
Memorial Day honors the brave members of our country’s armed forces who gave their lives fighting to protect and preserve freedom here at home and around the world. We owe a debt of gratitude to all who have served, and particularly to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Their sacrifices—and the sacrifices of their families—remind us of the true cost of the freedoms we enjoy. We owe them a great debt; one we can never fully repay.
We honor those we lost by remembering their courage and living up to the values they died defending. They fought for freedom, democracy, and human rights—ideals that must be protected and upheld, and never taken for granted. At a time when these ideals are once again under threat in many parts of the world, remembrance becomes not just a tribute, but a responsibility.
We also honor their memory by ensuring that our active-duty personnel, local veterans, and military families continue to receive the support they need and deserve to build healthy, thriving lives. Thanks to King County’s Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy, we can fund a wide range of programs to help them do just that.
On Monday, May 26, I ask you to join me in a moment of remembrance and respect for all who have died in service to our country, and to thank the more than two million active-duty and reserve personnel who serve today.
Whether you spend the day with family, in quiet reflection, or participating in a memorial event, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on the meaning of this day, and the service and sacrifice that have helped shape the nation we live in.
Sincerely,
Shannon Braddock
King County Executive
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Tech Tip: Personally Identifiable Information
What is sensitive information? Sensitive information is privileged information which – if compromised through alteration, corruption, loss, misuse, or unauthorized disclosure – could cause serious harm to an individual or organization. You must always give the highest level of protection to privileged information. Here we discuss Personally Identifiable Information, or PII.
What is Personally Identifiable Information?
For the purpose of data protection, PII is defined as: any instance of an individual’s first name (or first initial) plus the last name, and any one of 29 additional confidential items. Read more.
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Meet Wellness Hero Aaron Parker
Balanced You Wellness Heroes highlights employees doing things to better their lives, the lives of their colleagues, and our community.
Meet Wellness Hero Aaron Parker, Director of Community Corrections Division, Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention (DAJD). In this video, Aaron talks about his career and role at King County, the benefits of sports for youth mental health, and what he does outside of work including volunteering at the Seattle Central District Little League. They most recently had the opportunity to officially open the Mariners season!
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All in for Road Services All Hands event
What happens when more than 300 Road Services Division employees get together to learn, connect, and recharge?
They roll up their sleeves at the fourth annual All Hands event, held on May 7, 2025! With teambuilding as the theme, collaboration and connection were at the heart of every activity.
The Road Services Division hosts this annual daylong event to offer employees valuable professional development opportunities, help them learn more about the wide range of King County benefits, and most importantly, foster greater collaboration and connection across the team. The event draws hundreds of employees from across the division, including maintenance workers, engineers, planners, environmental scientists, project managers, communicators, managers, and finance and administrative professionals. Read more.
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Facilities hosts Continuous Improvement open house
Facilities Management Division’s Continuous Improvement (CI) team hosted an open house last month to showcase some of their ongoing projects and initiatives. Staff at seven different tables talked about their work and highlighted upcoming changes.
At one table, warehouse improvements were featured. At another, employees could try to shoot a plastic cup off a CPR dummy to win first aid supplies and prizes. Employees could learn about legislative issues and upcoming changes to validated parking at another table. Read more.
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DES well represented at Women in Trades Fair
The annual Women in Trades Fair is an opportunity for middle and high school students and others around the region to learn more about high-paying, skilled careers in the trades, from electrician and plumber to meat packer and security guard. There are hands-on demonstrations and tables with information. Lines formed to make a desk organizer with the King County Facilities Management Division (FMD), for which FMD won a second-place ribbon this year. Folks also stood in line to “shoot the (rubber) ducks” with a water sprayer and get a free spring flower at other booths.
It’s also a time for colleagues to catch up with one another in person.
“Hey, you helped me the other day,” said a bubbly woman to Laura Franklin, a security officer in the Facilities Management Division of the Department of Executive Services (DES) at Fisher Pavilion at the Seattle Center.
“I like helping people,” Franklin said with a smile. Read more.
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Honoring AANHP Heritage Month
Crossposted from Metro Matters
In celebration of American Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pasifika (AANHP)* Heritage Month, please join me in recognizing the cultures, histories, creativity and lasting contributions of AANHP communities who help shape the fabric of King County and our region.
This month is both a celebration and an opportunity for reflection. As we honor the richness and resilience of AANHP heritage, we also recognize the ongoing impact of exclusion, discrimination and systemic racism—from the Chinese Exclusion Act to the scapegoating of Asian communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, to tragedies like the 2023 Monterey Park shooting and the recent attack at Vancouver’s Lapu-Lapu Festival. These painful events remind us that the work of creating a more inclusive, respectful and safe environment—within Metro and throughout the communities we serve—must continue.
In 2024, Metro launched the AANHP Visibility Project, recognizing that art can help us survive, heal, and connect in times of tragedy. The project featured employee-created artworks displayed as a bus wrap, a traveling worksite installation and murals on downtown Seattle bus shelters. As part of this effort, Metro also produced a 10-minute, Emmy-nominated video that brings to life the powerful stories and spirit behind the artwork. This project celebrates the history, strength and contributions of AANHP communities and serves as a visible affirmation of our ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion and belonging. To learn more about the project, visit kingcounty.gov/metro/aanhp. Read more.
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