Salmon, soccer and savings: Why King County recycles water
Here’s something you don’t think about every day: recycled water. Millions of gallons of water are cleaned every day at the five wastewater treatment plants that King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) operates. After the water is cleaned, some of the water is recycled for other uses like industrial, irrigation and wetland purposes. In fact, WTD even uses recycled water to cool machinery and buildings at the West Point and South Treatment Plants. By using recycled water, WTD saves the county approximately $650,000 annually, and saves millions of gallons of water. “We’re helping to… Read More
Restoring justice with Family Intervention & Restorative Services
When domestic violence is perpetrated by children in their own homes, families are faced with a difficult decision about whether to involve the police, which can lead to incarceration and a criminal record. In many instances families want their children to have the opportunity to “cool down” and learn how to manage their feelings of anger or frustration in non-violent ways. That’s why King County created FIRS (Family Intervention and Restorative Services). One of the employees who oversees FIRS is Stephanie Trollen, Legal Services Supervisor at the county’s Juvenile Division of the Prosecutor’s Office. “FIRS… Read More
Big Backyard 5k raises money for local parks
Nearly 1,000 walkers and runners took part in King County Parks’ eight annual Big Backyard 5K presented by Kaiser Permanente on Sunday, June 11, 2017, and participants did more than just get a Sunday morning workout. The proceeds of the event, which took place at Marymoor Park in Redmond, go toward the maintenance and operations of King County Parks. “The Big Backyard 5k is a great event that our employees, supporters and volunteers put on for runners and walkers across our community,” said King County Parks Director Kevin Brown. “Not only does it showcase one of the crown jewels in our… Read More
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. … Read More
Showing up for LGBTQ communities
Crossposted from Public Health Insider By Jesse Chipps, HIV/AIDS Planning Council Coordinator at Public Health – Seattle & King County 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… Read More
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… Read More
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… Read More
Understanding the role of an Appraiser
King County Assessor John Wilson has put together a video that helps residents understand how property tax values are determined. “While your property value might change, the greatest driver in how much you pay in property tax is actually voter-approved ballot measures,” Wilson said. “Each local government can only increase property tax revenues by 1% per year unless – and this an important unless – voters approve a special levy; and it’s these levies that are increasing property tax bills for most of us.” The video debunks some of the myths about… Read More
PRIDE is coming Sunday, June 25
“Whether you arrived here last week or whether you’ve lived here for five generations, you belong here.” – King County Executive Dow Constantine Please join King County Executive Dow Constantine and other colleagues, friends and family as we walk in the Pride Parade on Sunday, June 25. To walk with the King County group, meet at 10 a.m. on Fourth Avenue between University Street and Seneca Street and look for the King County Metro bus. The parade leaves from Union Street at 11 a.m. and ends at Second Avenue and Denny Way… Read More
KOMO News recently featured a King County Metro driver for his upbeat and positive attitude
Walid Underwood, a regular driver for the D-Line bus, was recently featured in a KOMO News exclusive. Host Eric Johnson and a camera crew tagged along for a ride, chatting with Walid and several of his passengers. ‘Walid doesn’t just drive a bus. He’s a singing, laughing, joke-telling tour guide, throwing out old-school references and corny one-liners and off-the-wall observations. “Welcome aboard Flight 106”, he says, as a handful of riders climb aboard.’ Read more at KOMO News. Image courtesy of KOMO News.
Employee News 