‘Walk safe’ works to improve pedestrian safety
Crossposted from Metro Matters We want everyone in our community to make it home safely. Please look and listen before crossing the street, never run to catch a bus, make yourself more visible in the dark and cross the street after the bus leaves the zone. Safety Gets Us All Home! Read more at Metro Matters
Airport gets national recognition for energy savings
Crossposted from the Centerline The Airport’s Main Terminal is our iconic centerpiece, one that has played a vital role in the history of Northwest aviation. Today – nearly 90 years after its completion – our terminal also serves as a model for what local governments can do with their aging buildings to reduce energy use. This week, King County International Airport/Boeing Field celebrated its recent improvements at the historic building to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption as part of a special recognition by the U.S. Department of Energy. Read more at Centerline
Top 10 stories of 2017
Our top stories, videos, and social media posts for 2017 Hundreds of story leads and ideas are submitted throughout the year to the Employee Communications team regarding employee accomplishments, County initiatives and priorities, and how the work of employees helps to protect the beauty of our region and enhance the lives of the 2.1 million people who call King County home. We invite you to revisit the top 10 stories of 2017; you just might run into a story about yourself, your colleague or your department, and as always, submit your story ideas to KCEmployees@kingcounty.gov. 10…. Read More
Save the date now and join your King County colleagues at the 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
This year’s celebration will take place Thursday, January 11, 2018, from 1 – 2:30 p.m. at The Sanctuary, 811 5th Ave Seattle. More details will be available soon! Calendars: The 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Calendars will start arriving at King County distribution points on Friday, December 22, and will also be available at the celebration. Any questions about the calendars, please connect with Tynishia Walker at 206-263-0534 or TWalker@kingcounty.gov The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is a County-sponsored event and King County directors, managers, and supervisors are encouraged to permit employees to participate, if possible…. Read More
Devastating Amtrak derailment
The Monday morning train derailment near DuPont resulted in the tragic loss of life and multiple injuries and hospitalizations. King County Executive Dow Constantine issued the following statement on the accident: “The devastating Amtrak derailment this morning has caused pain and concern throughout our region. Most of the daily passengers on that line are commuters who live or work in King County. To the friends and families of those who perished, know that we mourn with you. I thank the first responders for their heroic actions to save lives in a perilous situation. We stand… Read More
Kudos! Public Health – Seattle & King County receives a shoutout from the University of Washington
Over 2016 and 2017, Public Health responded to one of the largest mumps outbreak in the state and county in recent memory, including cases at the University of Washington campus. UW officials recently credited our help for reducing the impact on the community. Said one official: “I am grateful to our public health colleagues who were vital in helping us with this strategy.” Said another: “I’d say that our many our many hours on controlling the outbreak was an investment in keeping the outbreak small. We heard about the large outbreaks at other universities,… Read More
Year in review: King County’s 2017 Juvenile Justice reform progress
Crossposted from King County Youth Justice Reform doesn’t happen overnight. That doesn’t mean it can’t be impressive to look back at how much progress can be made in just one year. In 2017, King County continued to step up its investments and commitments to eliminating the school-to-prison pipeline: Safe Spaces: King County set in motion partnerships with organizations across the County to open up more safe, non-detention overnight spaces for struggling youth. More beds will be opening up in South King County in early 2018. Stopping the School-to-Prison Pipeline: Best Starts for Kids hired on a… Read More
Go green for the holiday
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green The holiday season is a great time to give. Why not go green and give back to our planet? Here are some ideas for greening up your holiday. Choose a living Christmas tree this year and help King County plant 1 Million Trees by 2020 Swansons Nursery is helping to support King County’s 1 Million Trees initiative. Here are ways you can help us reach our goal this holiday season: Choose a living Christmas tree and plant it at home after the holidays. Donate your living Christmas tree. Donate your… Read More
New pumps function as South Plant’s ‘heart’
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories Our South Treatment Plant in Renton recently underwent the equivalent of a heart transplant operation. Raw sewage pumps function as the heart of a treatment plant, providing the power to move wastewater into the plant, and South Plant replaced three of them — each orchestrated by a skilled team. The pumps had been in service for over five decades. They were reliable and easy to operate, but inefficient and energy-intensive. Project manager Bill Olwell said, “It is amazing that they are still up and working after 50 years. But… Read More
Keeping residents safe from flooding
With increased rainfall in King County during the fall and winter months, the risk of flooding in some parts of the county increases. “Flooding is a big problem in King County,” said Ken Zweig, Program Manager for River and Floodplain Management at Water and Land Resources Division. “Since 1990 we’ve had 12 presidentially declared disasters in this county. Historically the biggest floods have happened in the late fall and winter months.” The employees of King County’s Flood Warning Program work to educate and prepare residents who live in flood-prone areas about what… Read More
Employee News 