Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
Crossposted from DES Express Thanks to everyone who came out on Sunday, June 26 to participate in the Seattle Pride Parade! Dozens of us marched as One King County in the bright sun with beautiful new rainbow banners, demonstrating our commitment to equity and social justice. We’re already looking forward to 2017!
Crossposted from Lean In King County Completing environmental reporting for the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill is a complex process. With complicated record keeping, a long distance from sampling location to laboratory, and equipment and software challenges, the group responsible for environmental sampling and reporting knew there had to be a better way. The first improvement they made involved transportation. On a normal day, the group would collect their samples at Cedar Hills and then send two trucks to the lab so the samples could be tested. The team realized if they consolidated the samples only one truck… Read More
Crossposted from Metro Matters Metro needs your feedback to help shape the future of Access Transportation, Metro’s ADA paratransit service. We’ll reach out to the public several times this year to learn about what’s working well and how Access could be improved. Your feedback will inform Metro staff as they plan for new Access contracts that will take effect in 2018. In this first phase of outreach, we want to hear about how we’re doing with Access service, what’s most important riders, and ideas for improvements. Read more at Metro Matters
A new handheld device is helping law enforcement personnel get identification results quickly in the field, improving the safety of our communities. Handheld Mobile ID devices allow law enforcement to scan fingerprints in the field and search county, state and federal databases for matches in a matter of minutes. It’s an important tool when knowing a person’s true identity can impact critical decisions. Officer Kevin Bateman of the Kent Police Department shared one example with KCTV recently. “We had a hit-and-run, but the guy came back, and all he had was a… Read More
With the farmer’s markets season in full swing, King County’s Solid Waste Division offers several tips on how to smartly store food, reducing waste and keeping items fresher longer. The food items wasted most are fresh vegetables and fruit. This is typically because we have bought too much or didn’t use it in time. By storing fruits and vegetables for maximum freshness, they will taste better and last longer, helping you eat more of them before they spoil. When buying, choose fresh foods that freeze well if there’s a chance you won’t get… Read More
Closing Date/Time: Fri. 07/08/16 4:30 PM Pacific Time Salary: $62,025.60 – $78,624.00 Annually Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week Location: Chinook Building – 401 5th Ave, Seattle, Washington Department: Department of Community & Human Services Description: The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, self-reliant and connected to community. Provide prompt response to persons believed to have substance use disorders and to be of danger to themselves or others and/or who are gravely disabled with the goal of stabilizing the crisis… Read More
The King County Auditor’s Office promotes improved performance, accountability, and transparency in King County government through objective and independent audits and studies. Follow the King County Auditor on Twitter today! Click here to view all King County social media pages.
This a.m. bus rider loves how her KC Metro bus driver is always ready to help her start the day with smile and a kind word. Kudos to this driver for making her riders feel safe and happy on their morning commute!
King County Archives, the home of thousands of official documents and photographs, has launched a new online collection search tool at http://www.kingcounty.gov/archives/search. This brief video from KCTV takes you into to the Archives vault, where we talk about the collection, research, and the new search tool. Learn more about how to access items, materials and records from as far back as the 1800s. The video features commentary from King County archivist Carol Shenk.
Crossposted from DES Express As part of Healthy Incentives Farm Fresh Local program, we’re bringing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to the workplace. CSA at the workplace – how fresh is that? Sign up for a CSA and have it delivered for pick-up at Chinook What’s a CSA? CSAs have become a popular way for consumers to buy local seasonal food directly from a farmer who offers to the public a certain number of “shares.” Typically, the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers… Read More
Seattle PRIDE Parade is this Sunday, and this is our second year participating as One King County. Here are some tips for enjoying the holiday that this region celebrates best. Dress the part. When it comes to PRIDE, anything goes. Make sure you can stay cool and protected from the sun, and remember, the more skin you’re showing, the more sunscreen you’ll need. Remember the reason for the season. PRIDE is a positive stance against discrimination against the LGBTQ community. Supportive allies are welcome. Do a little dance. There is no better… Read More
Assistant Presiding Judge for King County Superior Court Judge Laura Inveen sat down with KC TV recently to share some of her professional and personal experiences. She talks about her initial interest in the field and what has kept her passionate about law, as well as how the success of the juvenile drug court program is helping to address the opioid epidemic. Interviewer Andre Huff also asks Laura about her interests in triathalons and her connections to local hip-hop superstar Macklemore and poet Sherman Alexie. View the entire interview online at KC TV or read the interview transcript.
King County was recently named to Forbes Magazine’s list of the 500 best places to work in America, the first time the County has appeared on the list. In his latest employee video, King County Executive Dow Constantine talks about what this national recognition means as well as what we’re doing to become a more supportive, empowering employer. Watch the video below:
Can trash be photogenic? The Solid Waste Division sure thinks so. Since 2014 the Solid Waste Division has used Instagram to give the public an insider’s view of happenings at its transfer and recycling stations and the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill.
Closing Date/Time: Fri. 07/01/16 4:30 PM Salary: $37.80 – $45.70 Hourly Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week Location: Operations & Maintenance Facility – 3407 Airport Way S, Seattle, Washington Department: Department of Transportation – Transit Division Description: SCADA Systems Specialists install, maintain and repair Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, components and equipment throughout the rail systems and facilities. Link Light Rail, operated by King County Metro Transit, is a 18.75 mile light rail line from the University of Washington to Seattle-Tacoma Airport. King County Metro Transit is a… Read More
This bus rider values the friendliness and courtesy of his bus driver, and appreciates that little bit of extra time the driver allows for those people running to catch the bus. Kudos to this bus driver for a job well done in connecting with the community and keeping riders safe and happy as they start the day!
Crossposted from Expanding the Narrative I don’t work directly with the public. My customers are people who work in local government. I serve public servants – and it brings me joy and satisfaction. I’m a Lean consultant. That means I facilitate workshops where people get to step back from their work, name the good they create, figure out ways to measure a product that are meaningful to them, and improve the work itself. Not long ago, I worked with a team to map their process. When asked, “What is the first thing… Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express blog The Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC) has recognized King County with two awards. The first was the Leadership Award for Purchasing Innovation for the County’s new Proterra battery-powered bus fleet, which provides significant cost savings and environmental benefits. The second was an Outstanding Case Study Award for the purchase of liquid petroleum gas vehicles for the county’s fleet. SPLC is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting green purchasing practices within large institutions. King County’s pair of awards were presented to environmental purchasing manager Karen… Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express blog Last week, King County hosted the Consortium for Advanced Management International‘s (CAM-I) summer quarter meeting, focusing on “Private and Public Sector Partnerships.” CAM-I is an organization that over the last four decades has developed practical and effective management tools, techniques, and methods to advance the way organizations manage costs, processes, and performance. The event drew participation from employees all across King County, as well as Boeing and the Royal Australian Navy, to name a few. Speakers for the plenary session included Deputy County Executive Fred Jarrett,… Read More
King County Metro’s Alternative Services program has launched a new transportation pilot program and it’s available to King County employees who live on Mercer Island! TripPool is a new rideshare connection from your home neighborhood to the Park-and-Ride. Riders use a mobile app to find and book trips. The best part is the TripPool van gets reserved parking at the Park-and-Ride! Be part of this pilot project at the Mercer Island Park-and-Ride and help us learn how to make the program even better. Interested? Email trippool@kingcounty.gov to learn how you can try… Read More