Treatment plants go ‘Platinum’ in 2016
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories
Another year, another stellar performance that earned national recognition for our treatment plant operations.
Four of our plants were honored with Platinum Peak Performance Awards from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies headquartered in Washington D.C. To earn the awards, the treatment plants must meet 100 percent compliance with the effluent discharge limits set by permits under the federal Clean Water Act and the state’s Water Pollution Control Law.
Our Carnation Treatment Plant earned its first Platinum award for five consecutive years of perfect compliance with its discharge requirements.
Read more at Clean Water Stories
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From police dispatcher to King County Prosecutor’s Office
Crossposted from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Facebook
Most people’s worst days were Michelle Lorraine’s every day for nearly 14 years as a police dispatcher for the Greater Seattle area. When people reached a crisis moment and dialed 911 for an emergency, it was Michelle who answered the phone calls and determined the appropriate course of action.
“You can go from an active police incident with a shooting, to your next call being someone who is calling in with a parking complaint or because the neighbor’s dog pooped in their yard. Whatever the call is, it’s a vital emergency to the person calling, and you have to maintain your professionalism at all times,” Michelle says.
She’s handled suicide and domestic violence calls which spike over the holidays, and she says calls where children are victims can be emotional to handle, but Michelle has never lost her composure on the job.
Read more at the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Facebook.
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King County celebrates a facility – and a community
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories
When King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) dedicates a new wastewater facility, we invite people near and far to join us. Celebrations provide an ideal opportunity to thank project communities for their role in the project and their patience during the process. People get to see firsthand how public input shaped a neighborhood’s new clean water asset.
King County welcomed about 200 people to dedicate the Murray Wet Weather Facility in West Seattle on a sunny Saturday in June. Visitors arrived on foot, bikes, or by car. The youngest rolled up in strollers. Some visitors were on leash, wearing collars.
Read more at Clean Water Stories
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King County Accountable Community of Health welcomes first Executive Director
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
This week, the King County Accountable Community of Health (ACH) Governing Board welcomed Susan McLaughlin, PhD as its first Executive Director. Susan will provide leadership, overall strategy, operations and work to build collaboration across multiple partners working for better health in the King County region.
A central focus is bringing together partners to implement the Medicaid Transformation Project Demonstration in our county. This is a strategic opportunity to attract significant federal investment to our region to improve health outcomes and address the social and economic factors that impact health.
Read more at Public Health Insider
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Featured Job: Transit Employee and Labor Relations Manager
Closing Date/Time: Sun. 07/02/17 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Salary: $106,870.40 – $135,470.40 Annually
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Location: King Street Center – 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, Washington
Department: Department of Transportation – Transit Division
Description: King County Metro Transit is looking for an energetic and passionate leader to successfully manage our Employee & Labor Relations Program. The incumbent in this position administers the provisions of King County Metro Transit’s Employee & Labor Relations program. The scope of responsibilities includes overseeing broad, complex, and potentially politically sensitive issues. This position reports directly to the Transit Assistant General Manager for Employee Services and works closely with Transit’s General Manager and Strategic Leadership Team. The position effectively partners with senior management across the agency in monitoring, implementing, and maintaining an effective program of ELR service delivery and compliance.
Learn more about this position, or view all available jobs.
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Showing up for LGBTQ communities
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
By Jesse Chipps, HIV/AIDS Planning Council Coordinator at Public Health – Seattle & King County
Pictured: From left to right, Leah Holland, Jesse Chipps, Ronan Cox and Darron Lewis, a few staff from Public Health’s proud LGBTQ community.
June is National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, and each year at this time hundreds of King County employees, department directors and public officials march together in Seattle’s Pride Parade. Rainbow tinsel laden vehicles, bubble machines, and matching t-shirts pull the group together as One King County.
Same sex marriage became legal in Washington State on December 6, 2012, at midnight. While couples who had waited for decades to marry could have waited another few hours until the King County Recorder’s Office opened the next morning, King County Executive Dow Constantine began issuing licenses, personally, at 12:01 a.m.
One of the county’s core values is to be “fair and just” in all we do in order to achieve equitable opportunities for all people and communities. This language was passed into law in 2010 by a unanimous vote of the County Council. The ordinance reflects the values if those who live and work here.
To see photos of King County employees participating in Seattle’s Pride Parade, click here.
Read more at Public Health Insider
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Seahawks player Michael Bennett starts gardening program for youth in juvenile detention
Crossposted from KC Justice Youth
King County Juvenile Detention, in partnership with Interagency Academy, hosted Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks, his wife Pele, and other members of the Bennett Foundation to inaugurate the new Bennett Foundation Garden located within the detention facility. Built by Interagency Academy students at our Opportunity Skyway site in Georgetown with a $5,000 grant provided by the Bennett Foundation, the garden seeks to provide students with an opportunity to learn about growing food, healthy eating, and biology through hands-on gardening and art experiences.
The project represents a unique partnership between the Foundation, King County, Interagency Academy (Seattle Public Schools), the King County detention kitchen, and community volunteers. The food in the garden will be planted, maintained, and harvested by students, and will be used in the kitchen to feed the very students who grew the food. This farm-to-table project is also intended to provide a therapeutic educational experience for our students, many of whom have undergone significant trauma in their lives. Funding from the Bennett Foundation is also supporting the design, painting, and installation of food- and nutrition-themed art murals for the detention garden area. These will be created and painted by students in detention with the support of teachers and community volunteers.
Read more at KC Justice Youth
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Installation of new mechanical System in a 1929 KCIA Terminal Building
This article is featured courtesy of Project Manager Milton Huertas, King County International Airport, Department of Transportation
As directed by the Green Building Ordinance and Strategic Climate Action Plan Green Building Goal Area, King County-owned buildings and infrastructure will be built, maintained and operated consistent with the highest green building and sustainable development practices.
Thanks to the project team and airport staff, the Main Terminal Building at King County International Airport/Boeing Field has just undergone a deep energy efficiency retrofit. The project is planned to achieve a Platinum level rating using the King County Sustainable Infrastructure Scorecard.
The work included replacement of rooftop multi‐zone air handlers and installation of new Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF ‐ high tech heat pump) systems, heat recovery ventilator (HRV) and dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS), as well as a change to LED lighting. In 2004, during a complete building remodel, new insulation and energy efficient glazing were installed, but the HVAC units were retained because of lifecycle service and cost. Replacement of the older units provides for a new state of the art energy system that is anticipated to reduce the heating and cooling cost by $19,335 per year.
The new lighting upgrades save $3,200 per year, which is a 47 percent energy cost reduction. The project is supported by a $300K state Energy Efficiency Commerce Grant. The HRV units were purchased at a 50 percent discount as part of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) program.
Initial estimates on savings the from design phase indicate a savings of 391,499 KWH annually in electricity usage and 26,105 therms annually in natural gas savings. In addition, the projected greenhouse gas emissions savings from the project is 388.44 MTCO2e per year from operations.
In King County, the second greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions is from energy used to heat, cool, and power our homes and buildings. Not only does this Main Terminal Building retrofit reduce costs, it significantly reduces energy use. This supports the County goal of reducing government operational energy use in County buildings and facilities by an additional ten percent in the next decade, as described in the Strategic Climate Action plan.
Click through the photos below to learn more about the project.
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Social Media Spotlight: Are you one of our 13,000 LinkedIn followers?
More than 13,000 King County employees, residents and job seekers are getting up-to-date news and information, job opportunities, trainings, discounts and more by following King County on LinkedIn. Are you one of them?
To follow King County on LinkedIn, go to the King County company page and click “follow” (you will need to create a LinkedIn account if you do not have one).
You can also get employee news and information by following us on these platforms:
- Twitter @kcemployees
- Blog www.kcemployees.com
- Tumblr www.kcemployees.tumblr.com
- YouTube King County Employees
- Twitter @kingcountyjobs
Accessing Employee News is an acceptable use of IT assets.
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Michael Jacobson named Chair of the ASPA’s Center for Accountability and Performance
Michael Jacobson, Deputy Director for Performance and Strategy with the County’s Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget, has been named to a three-year board term and one-year chairmanship of the American Society of Public Administration’s Center for Accountability and Performance.
During his term, Michael is working to advance awareness about the importance of performance and accountability in government through the Center’s regular webinar series and annual organizational and performance leadership awards. He will also host performance-related expert panels at ASPA’s annual conferences.
“Another part of what has been exciting for me is the opportunity I’ve had to help diversify board membership in terms of race and gender, and to help create an Emerging Leader Award,” said Michael. “The diversity efforts are very important to do for the organization, to get the different perspectives and a deeper understanding of issues. And the Emerging Leader Award has allowed us to recognize people who are starting out in their jurisdictions and doing great work. We are able to give them some early career recognition, and they get some well-deserved visibility.”
Michael joined King County in July, 2002. In his current role, he is responsible for the overall strategic and performance aspects of the County’s performance management system. He also oversees the Criminal Justice, Strategy and Policy Group within the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget. Under his leadership, the County has received numerous performance measurement and reporting awards and recognitions.
“Our Executive’s best-run government philosophy encourages us to engage our communities – including national professional communities,” added Michael. “This is a great opportunity for me to engage national networks and bring best practices back to King County.”
His contributions to the field have been recognized with the ASPA’s Harry Hatry Distinguished Performance Measurement and Practice Award. This award is presented to individuals whose outstanding teaching, education, training and consultation in performance measurement has made a significant contribution to the practice of public administration. He has also served as editorial board member of Public Administration Review.
Congratulations, Michael!
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