Featured Headlines
DCHS-led Health Through Housing initiative hits major milestone
In the field with Executive Zahilay: Listening to staff and empowering solutions
Tap to pay: Puget Sound region transit systems to accept credit and debit cards, and digital wallets as fare payment
Major ‘Revive I-5’ repairs continue for Ship Canal Bridge
News
Join us for a Sea Level Rise in the Puget Sound Lunch and Learn, October 18
Employees are welcome to join us for a presentation on the current understanding of Sea Level Rise in the Puget Sound. Come hear Dr. Ian Miller, Coastal Hazard Specialist from Washington SeaGrant, discuss sea level rise and how it may present itself in the Puget Sound. Wednesday, October 18 from noon to 1:00 p.m. King Street Center, 201 South Jackson Street, 8th Floor Conference Room All King County employees welcome, but space is limited. Please sign up here. For more information, please contact Shaun O’Neil at Shaun.O’neil@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-4432.
Tech Tip: Tighter security for KC internet browsers
On Oct. 14, Google Chrome becomes the first browser to significantly step-up security notifications. If a website lacks a special security authentication, this is what people will see: But not KC webpages that manage health data, financial data and other private data. KCIT inventoried all pages weeks ago to ensure data pages are secure and encrypted and users will NOT see that notification when submitting data like credit card information to a county website. However, because King County has thousands of pages, it was difficult to secure ALL non-data pages by the… Read More
Disability Awareness Month – a history of Metro’s Accessible Transit Services
Crossposted from Bytes and Boxes Today an industry leader in public transit, Metro has been shaped by citizen involvement since its establishment by the voters of King County 60 years ago. One significant area of Metro leadership and citizen engagement has been the development of accessible transit services for people with disabilities. The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (“Metro”) was formed in 1958 with a public mandate to improve local water quality. Over time, Metro expanded to other civic projects and services. The Forward Thrust bond campaign, headed by community activist James Ellis,… Read More
Success at work!
This article is featured courtesy of Karla Lynch, Employment and Community Access Program Manager, with Department of Community and Human Services When we think about our careers, and how we landed in our present jobs, we recognize that each path is unique. The same is true for persons with developmental disabilities (DD). In the early days of the supported employment movement, most people who experienced a developmental disability worked in sheltered workshops – segregated settings in which persons with DD worked together, typically performing a variety of manual tasks. As we’ve learned more about how to… Read More
Domestic partner changes for 2018
Effective Jan. 1, 2018, for most union groups and all non-represented employees, domestic partners and their children will not be eligible for King County benefits, except for state-registered domestic partners. King County will continue to offer employee benefits to non-state-registered domestic partners and their children for the remainder of 2017. Why is King County making this change? King County previously extended employee benefits to the domestic partners of employees to correct an inequity in benefits provided to same-sex couples. This policy was enacted at a time when same-sex marriage was prohibited in Washington. However,… Read More
Employee survey extended until Friday, Oct. 13
Dear fellow King County employee, To make sure we are hearing from as many employees as possible, the 2017 Employee Survey has been extended by one week and will now close this Friday, October 13. This year’s survey period was one week shorter than last year’s, and while our daily response rates are higher than in 2016, we have not heard from as many total employees as we did last year. Employees in all branches and departments of King County, except the Superior Court, District Court and the Sheriff’s Office, and employees who… Read More
Employee Giving Campaign: Message from John Wilson and Matias Valenzuela
Dear King County Employee, As King County employees, we are fortunate to work and live in one of the most dynamic and diverse areas in the nation, with a robust economy, world-class universities, stunning landscapes, and a strong sense of community. Not everybody, however, has equitable access to opportunity, and we as County employees play a key role in changing this and creating a better region for all. It is in the spirit of community that we invite you to participate in the King County Employee Giving Program’s 2017 Annual Giving Drive…. Read More
Social Media Spotlight: What’s up with Stormwater? Facebook
Stormwater runoff is the water that flows off of hard, impermeable surfaces–like roofs, sidewalks, and roads–when it rains. This water picks up pollutants before it flows into stormdrains that then take the untreated water and dump it directly into streams, rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound. Pollution from stormwater runoff is currently the number one source of pollution in Puget Sound. King County is working hard to fix this problem, but we can’t do it alone. Like our page to learn more about what you can do to help protect our environment from dirty stormwater and to stay up to… Read More
Featured Job: Health and Environmental Investigator IV
Closing Date/Time: Open continuously Salary: $40.53 – $51.38 Hourly Job Type: Career Service Location: Chinook Building, Downtown Seattle, Washington Department: Department of Public Health–Environmental Health Services Description: The Environmental Health Services Division is seeking, enthusiastic and dedicated Health and Environmental Inspector Supervisor (HEI IV) for the Solid Waste, Rodent Control and Zoonotic Diseases Program, Public Health Seattle – King County. Under the direction of the Community Environmental Health (CEH) Section Manager, the supervisor oversees environmental health services mandated by local, state and federal regulations governing solid waste facilities and broader issues in King County. The responsibilities focus on overall… Read More
Kudos! Positive community response received to WTD activities at construction site
Members of the neighborhood at the site of Wastewater Treatment Division’s (WTD’s) construction of the Sunset and Heathfield Pump Station Replacement and Force Main Upgrade project have sent emails to King County to express their appreciation for the amount of communication they’ve received from WTD, and for the safety concerns shown for the residents by the contractor’s workers. I wanted to send a note of thanks to De’Sean Quinn and his team who are working on the Sunset and Heathfield pump stations project. We live across the street from the Heathfield Pump Station. We… Read More
Update your address to receive important Open Enrollment information
Open Enrollment for your 2018 King County benefits takes place Nov. 1 – 15. It’s your opportunity to evaluate your benefit options and make choices for the upcoming year. This year, you’ll have a new medical plan option: KingCare℠ Select. Details about the new third plan—and other important benefits and Open Enrollment information—will be sent to your home address, so please confirm that your mailing address is correct: Sign in to PeopleSoft. You can also access PeopleSoft from home by going to kingcounty.gov > Information for King County employees > PeopleSoft login. Go to My Personal Information Go to Home… Read More
Bond rating boost, refinancing saves $41.2 million for King County sewer utility ratepayers
Strong credit ratings and favorable conditions in the financial market continue to benefit ratepayers served by King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division. On Monday, King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division refinanced $175.6 million in Limited Term General Obligation (LTGO) Refunding Bonds. The refinancing will save ratepayers $41.2 million over the next 17 years. King County’s wastewater utility partially funds its capital improvement program by selling sewer revenue and LTGO bonds. Solid credit ratings help the County secure a lower interest rate on the bonds it sells to fund its major capital improvement program. The money borrowed… Read More
Tech Tip: Don’t shut down, restart!
KCIT makes security and other updates to your computer while you are sleeping, but we can’t do it if your computer is off. So when you go home at night, hit “Restart” instead of “Shutdown”. That cleans up your computer AND allows KCIT to rollout the necessary upgrades and patches so your device is up-to-date the next day.
Celebrating Disability Awareness Month
This October King County is celebrating Disability Awareness Month and taking the opportunity to recognize the many contributions of people with disabilities to our workforce and our communities. King County provides many programs and services – such as easier access to public transit, greater access to parks, facilities and trails, housing assistance and improvement programs, and Accessible Voting Centers – to help people with disabilities bring their unique contributions to our communities and live fulfilling and rewarding lives. King County Executive Dow Constantine and the Metropolitan King County Council proclaimed the month of October as Disability… Read More
Last chance! Employee Survey closing Oct. 6
The 2017 Employee Survey is now underway so please have your say by October 6 on how we can make King County work better for you and your customers. This year, employees in all branches and departments of King County, except the Superior Court, District Court and the Sheriff’s Office, Short Term Temporary employees, interns and employees who started after August 25, 2017, are eligible to take the survey. If you haven’t received your survey invitation from 2017KCEmployeeSurvey@orcsurvey.com, please check your Junk Mail folder first, then contact KCEmployeeSurvey@kingcounty.gov if it is not there. The survey should take between 10-20 minutes… Read More
Two of our firefighters render medical aid on cross-country flight
Crossposted from The Centerline Our Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Unit staff members are trained to respond to emergencies on the airfield, but helping with a medical emergency in midair is a different story. On Sept. 21, King County Sheriff’s Office deputies Seth Grant and Graydon Matheson were returning from a conference in Louisville, Ky., aboard an Alaska Airlines flight from Chicago. A flight attendant asked over the intercom if there were any medically trained passengers aboard. Grant and Matheson immediately responded, as did an ER doctor who also happened to be aboard. An… Read More
County resources help employee find the right job
Sometimes you get a second chance. When Sean Porter started his career at King County, he had a completely different job. For the first eight months, things went well. But then the pressures grew – along with the workplace distractions. It was soon discovered that Sean had a very treatable medical condition. After working with a trusted supervisor, along with Disability Services, he was able to locate a new job as a Maintenance Planner Scheduler/Transit Administrative Specialist II at Rail. Though it’s never easy to switch jobs, he credits the help of… Read More
Employee development through Special Duty Assignments
At King County, Special Duty Assignments (SDA) create opportunities for employees who wish to hone their current skills and add new ones to their resume. Such is the case for one King County employee; Public Health Administrative Specialist Donna Rodgers-Yates has been with King County for more than 20 years, and in June Donna took on a SDA with King County Information Technology as a Human Resources Associate. “Opportunity for personal and professional growth prompted me to take on a SDA,” Donna said. “After gathering more information about other departments and exploring… Read More
Metro Transit celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month
During National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15), we at King County recognize the important presence of Hispanic and LatinX Americans and the contributions they have made to the United States and King County, and celebrate their heritage and culture. National Hispanic Heritage Month begins each year on September 15, the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period and Dia de la Raza is October 12. Before Washington was a state, people of Hispanic origin were coming to the region to work on… Read More
Exec meets with employees to learn how to boost women in trades
King County Executive Dow Constantine recently hosted an Employee Listening Session on the topic “Women in Trades” to hear from the people in the best position to advise on how we can bring more women into the skilled trades at King County – women working in the trades at King County. “As women who work in the trades here at King County, I want to get your thoughts on how we can bring more women into skilled trades jobs at the County,” Executive Constantine said to the attendees. “What are the barriers you… Read More
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