Kudos! Riders appreciate Metro driver adding humor to route
This bus rider appreciated the cheerful disposition and sense of humor shown by his driver on a quiet, sleepy morning.
Kudos to this driver for ensuring riders get to work in happy, positive mood!
Share this:
Finance and Business Operations team act as behind-the-scenes caped crusaders
The P-Card team works hard to ensure fast, prompt service.
It takes a lot to be a superhero. You’ve got to wear a cape and have the right color spandex. You’ve got to make sure your hair’s always big and shiny, and you’ve got to have the token admirer.
Or you could work on the P-Card team in King County’s Finance and Business Operations Division. P-Card stands for Purchasing Card, and its King County’s preferred method of buying goods and services. It’s essentially a US Bank VISA credit card, issued to a King County employee that streamlines the purchasing and payment process.
Since 2010 the P-Card team have worked to ensure that not only are employees happy with the service, but that the program continues to benefit the County in substantial savings.
“P-Cards save over $70 in processing time per transaction,” said Program Manager Kelly Hunsaker. “In 2015 alone it saved King County over 7 million dollars.”
Share this:
Kudos! King County joins list of best places to work
We are all working together to make King County a great place to work.
King County’s efforts to create a workplace culture that empowers employees as problem-solvers and decision-makers are beginning to pay dividends, with the County making Forbes magazine’s list of America’s 500 Best Employers in 2016.
King County ranked number 192 on the 2016 list –the first time it has appeared in the ranking– and number 19 among governments nationwide. Forbes compiled the list by asking more than 30,000 U.S. workers employed by companies with more than 5,000 staff members how likely they were to recommend their employer to someone else and how they felt about other employers in their industry.
This recognition marks a milestone in the work that began six years ago when Dow Constantine was elected King County Executive, bringing a focus on transforming the County into an organization that was better able to anticipate and meet the needs of its two million residents through its employees.
“We’re working to transform King County into an employer that fully supports its employees, empowers them to innovate and make decisions, and provides genuine opportunity for development and growth–that’s how we deliver more value for our customers,” Executive Constantine said.
Share this:
Paratransit/Rideshare Operations Manager steering program to meet rider needs
Imagine being unable to take a bus because of a disability. Riders without disabilities can take it for granted, but riders with disabilities do not.
For those riders with disabilities who can’t take their trip on the bus, there is Access, King County Metro’s ADA paratransit service. It is a demand response, shared ride transit service that picks riders up and takes them to their destination. It operates during the same times and days as the bus does and riders can use it to go anywhere as they would the bus.
With the support of her department, Priscilla Vargas, Manager of Paratransit and Rideshare Operations, is working to improve Access and the experience of riders with disabilities.
Share this:
KIRO 7 story looks at fix for 2017/18 budget deficit
King County is facing a $50 million budget deficit in 2017/18, and KIRO 7 News spoke recently to Budget Director Dwight Dively about a small fix that would have a big impact for the County’s ability to provide services.
Below is an excerpt from the story:
According to Dively, a 3.7 percent increase would help the county provide necessary services for its increasing population. At the current 1 percent rate, Dively explained, the county is in the red.
“If we were able to keep up with inflation and population growth with our property tax revenue, we would not have a budget problem, and in fact we would be able to add services.”
Share this:
Exercise program smashes stereotypes, pairing youth and law enforcement
McCurdy and other volunteers organized a structured high-quality exercise program.
The Badges and Barbells Weightlifting Club is a unique program that builds connections between King County and the community. The program is targeted toward students and First Responders, which includes law enforcement, corrections and fire personnel. It focuses on weightlifting, conditioning workouts and additional exercises to improve individual health and allow participants to form positive relationships.
Andrew McCurdy, Sergeant with the King County Sheriff’s Office and current Covington Chief of Police, heads the program.
“As First Responders, we too often only have contact with teenagers during times of crisis,” he said. “By getting cops to come in and work out with the kids, we’re smashing some stereotypes on both sides that often make communication difficult under stress.”
Share this:
Featured Job: Functional Analyst II
Closing Date/Time: Mon. 05/09/16 11:59 PM
Salary: $32.79 – $41.56 Hourly
Job Type: Career Service
Location: Chinook Building, Downtown Seattle, Washington
Department: Department of Public Health–Administrative Services
Description: This position reports to the Health Information Management (HIM) Manager, in the executive branch of Seattle and King County Department of Public Health. The HIM Functional Analyst will support key HIM activities in the following Divisions: Jail Health Services (JHS), Prevention (STD and TB clinics) and Community Health Services (CHS). They will also work with the King County Records Center, King County Information Services (IT) and the Health Information Technology (HIT) team. We currently manage over 2.2 million records. All Divisions are transitioning to the OCHIN Epic EMR. CHS and Prevention are transitioning from paper or a paper/electronic records combination; JHS is transitioning from the PEARL EHR. We expect to be completely transitioned by late 2017.
Learn more about this position or view all available jobs.
Share this:
Apply for the 2016 Bridge Fellowship Program
Crossposted from the DES Express blog
Applications open soon for the 2016 Bridge Fellowship Program: A Career Development Course for the Emerging Leader. The program is an opportunity for any employee to gain new skills and knowledge to assist in advancing your career at King County.
Employees who participated in the 2015 King County employee engagement survey identified access to training opportunities and career growth as a key driver of their engagement, but less than half responded positively to having fair and equal access to career advance opportunities. The Bridge Fellowship Program is part of a countywide effort to create a culture that develops the next generation of leaders and nurture an empowered workforce.
Share this:
Flood reduction grant opportunity deadline is May 27
The King County Flood Control District has announced the availability of $3.3 million in grant funding for projects that reduce the impact of flooding in King County. Eligible applicants include homeowner associations, non-profit organizations or associations, schools, special purpose districts, tribes, cities and towns within King County and King County agencies. Individuals who need funding for a local flooding issue are encouraged to work with an eligible group to apply for a grant. Projects must provide a flood reduction benefit so that it directly addresses existing or potential flooding. The deadline for this 2016 grant opportunity is May 27. For more information, visit the King County Flood Control District website.
Share this:
Drug court graduation draws media attention
Drug court graduate Josh Kerns shares his story through rap.
Public defender Natasha Coleman recently asked King County Superior Judge Cheryl Carey if graduates from the King County Adult Diversion Drug Court could share a talent at their graduation ceremony. The judge agreed, and the first such performance happened Wednesday, when rapper Shelby Allen – a 22-year-old man and one of Natasha’s clients – shared his story and his appreciation for Drug Court through a rap he wrote. KCTV, KING5 and KIRO radio were on hand to observe him. Natasha said Shelby was thrilled. “It was the best ceremony I have ever attended. Everyone loved Shelby. He put on sunglasses just before he started to rap and had everyone in the audience singing and rapping with him,” Natasha said.
View the King5 story here and read more at the King County Youth Justice blog.
Employee News 