Kudos! King County Water Taxis receive rave from Seattle Times readers
This piece was featured at the top of the Seattle Times’ Rant and Raves list. Kudos to the Water Taxis for a job well done! “RAVE To King County Water Taxis and their crews for their work to accommodate the large increase in passengers due to the Alaskan Viaduct closure. From using larger buses for shuttles, coming up with ways to speed boarding, and adding the Spirit of Kingston to fill in when possible, their efforts are really appreciated by both regular and new passengers.”
Developing the next generation of King County employees
Crossposted from the DES Express blog Like many of our region’s employers, King County is facing a “silver tsunami.” Members of the Baby Boom generation, born between 1946 and 1964, are set to retire in huge numbers in just a few years. Many of them have decades of institutional knowledge that could be lost when they leave. There’s also another demographic challenge facing the County: Millennials, those born between 1981 and 2000, are more likely to pursue tech-oriented careers. Many Millennials aren’t even aware of the lucrative job opportunities available in the… Read More
Yesler Bridge Rehabilitation Project: Reminder! Yesler Way Bridge to close for construction starting May 23
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will begin construction to rehabilitate the Yesler Way Bridge, located at the intersection of Yesler Way and Terrace St. over 4th Ave S. Construction is scheduled to begin as soon as May 23 and expected to last through fall 2017. As a result of this project, some transit routes may be affected during construction, including KC Metro routes: 27, 111, 114, 212, 214, 216, 217, 218, 219, 252, 257, 268, 304, 308, 311, 312, 355; Sound Transit routes: 510, 511, 512, 513, 554, 590, 594, 595; Community… Read More
Employee shares County business insights with other staff and students
King County is a public sector leader in using technology to help customers access services and complete transactions online and on the go. It takes a dedicated team of problem solvers to identify solutions that make sense for customers – inside and outside the County. One of those people is IT Senior Business Analyst Barb DeLauter, who uses her people skills to impact both her work at King County and her community. Initially, she began her 11-year career in Elections, but has since moved throughout King County before moving to the Department… Read More
Making the King County website accessible for all
This article is featured courtesy of the King County Department of Information Technology To make the King County website more accessible and useful for residents with visual and hearing challenges, King County Information Technology (KCIT) staff met with deaf and blind residents and advocates on April 26 to learn how to make existing and planned websites and mobile apps more user-friendly. KCIT Director and Chief Information Officer Bill Kehoe took part in the conversation, along with the KCIT Business Solutions teams, and King County’s ADA Compliance Officer Melony Joyce. Their discussion was… Read More
Kathmandu to King County: Risk-taking Army veteran finds his niche
Throughout his travels in Nepal, Utah and Washington, Yub Giri has stayed focused on his priorities. First it was pursuing a degree in civil engineering at Brigham Young University. Then he joined the U.S. Army, working as a dental assistant, map reading instructor and Barrack Maintenance Supervisor in addition to other duties. Now he’s intent on making the most out of his Vets 4 HIRE Fellowship, and credits the people he’s met along the way for getting him started on a successful transition to civilian life. “Here at King County people want… Read More
Cutting red tape speeds up hiring process for King County
For human resources professionals, there is nothing more frustrating than overseeing an extensive recruitment process, only to lose your top candidate thanks to unnecessary delays in the hiring approval process. That’s what was happening to King County recruiters when they sought to hire successful candidates above step one of a position’s pay scale. The process often took weeks, with the County code requiring an approval process that often involved 15 to 19 handoffs before it could be completed. It was time-consuming and by the end of it, hiring personnel found that they were losing candidates. “Many people told us it was going to be impossible… Read More
Garden Questions? Call the Garden Hotline
Crossposted from the HazWasteHelp blog Is this the right time to plant tomatoes? Where can I find good soil for my raised beds? How can I win my battle with slugs? Home gardeners and landscape professionals can get expert advice by calling the Garden Hotline at (206) 633-0224, Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Read more at HazWasteHelp
One-on-One: Veterans program builds on military expertise and experience
Adjusting to change can be hard. Moving, starting a family or going back to school are difficult transitions. Returning to civilian life after spending time in the military is equally, if not more challenging, especially when it comes to getting a job. King County’s Vets 4 HIRE Fellowship Program tackles this issue head on, allowing veterans to transition to civilian life by connecting them with skill-building experiences at King County. With each department able to identify and create a fellowship position, the opportunities are endless. Furthermore, the Veteran and Human Services Levy… Read More
Newly-elected assessor works in a King County state of mind
When new King County Assessor John Wilson was elected last November, he was very clear about his goals. “We want to embrace the Executive’s issue of being the best-run government and be recognized nationally as the best assessment department,” he said. “We can do this by setting fair and equitable property values, and creating and sustaining a stable revenue stream for the government to operate.”
Employee News 