Featured Headlines
Holiday travel? Metro will help you get there
Emergency exercise tests communications ahead of World Cup
King County Wins 2025 Geospatial Professional Network Award for Innovative AI-GIS System
Recognizing the service of Metro veterans
News
FMD launches new intranet site for King County employees
The Facilities Management Division (FMD) recently launched a new intranet site. On this site you will be able to: Access FMD Services. From repairs and custodial services to HVAC, moving, tenant improvements, capital projects, parking, and ADA requests – FMD has you covered. Use this site to easily submit requests, access up-to-date forms, and connect with the right team. Learn more about King County Buildings. On this page, you can learn more about locations, hours, services, and amenities in buildings managed by FMD. Additional buildings will be added soon. Review FMD policies and procedures. Here you… Read More
Fleet debuts new online surplus auction
Crossposted from the DES Express Fleet Services has launched a new online surplus auction, making it possible and easy for the public to buy surplus county goods. Fleet is also making it easier for agencies to send furniture, supplies or other assets to Surplus. “Providing our local community access to county surplus goods is a big step for the Fleet Personal Property Surplus Program in service of our mission,” said Chauntelle Hellner, director of Fleet Services. “We are excited to continue growing and stabilizing this service and adding value to the county… Read More
Monitoring in Action: The dashboard that powers Executive Priorities Monitoring
Jyoti Karna, with the Performance, Strategy and Budget (PSB) team, recently interviewed Brad Steinmetz, who leads the Executive Priorities Monitoring Program. The story highlights how the Enterprise Performance Dashboard is transforming this work by streamlining monitoring, aligning measures and giving senior leadership a clear, high-level view of countywide progress. Once managed through spreadsheets, this work now lives in a single, integrated dashboard that provides transparency and real-time visibility. Brad describes the dashboard as “a game changer,” helping leaders come prepared for critical discussions across the county’s monitoring processes. Read the full story here. Take a… Read More
Recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about domestic violence, signs of abuse, and how we can stop it. Domestic violence can take many forms, including physical, emotional, psychological, and financial abuse. It does not discriminate by age, gender, background, or profession. It can impact our coworkers, our neighbors, and our loved ones. The statistics remind us why awareness matters: Nearly 3 in 10 women and 1 in 10 men have experienced domestic violence and reported it. On average, 24 people per minute in the United States are physically… Read More
Happy Election season!
Ballots were mailed last week. If you haven’t received yours, give King County Elections a call at 206-296-VOTE. Not sure if you’re registered? Visit VoteWA.gov to register or update your registration information online by Oct. 27. After the 27th, you can register to vote in person until 8 p.m. on Election Day is Nov. 4. Local elections like this one are your chance to make sure your voice is heard in your community. King County Elections is projecting just 45% turnout this election so your vote will make a big impact. For more information… Read More
Protect yourself, your family, and your co-workers: Get flu and COVID-19 shots
King County wants employees to be healthy so you can feel good, get the most out of life, and do your best work for the community we serve. This year, the Washington Department of Health (DOH) recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine and the updated 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine. To ensure access to these vaccines, DOH has also issued a standing order authorizing all qualified healthcare providers to vaccinate individuals six months and older, including pregnant people. If you’ve recently had COVID-19, you may want to delay getting a… Read More
Recognizing International Day of Climate Action: Uplift climate justice through the Annual Giving Drive!
When it comes to climate change, the best time to act was at least decades ago but the next best time is now. The first International Day of Climate Action was held on Oct. 24, 2009, by 350.org — named after the 350 parts per million (ppm) upper limit of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere deemed safe by scientists. As of June 2025, the CO2 in Earth’s atmosphere was 430 ppm. Environmentally focused organizations tackle our climate crisis year-round by facilitating education, access to resources, and advocacy and community organizing. Your gift through the Annual Giving… Read More
Out of the courtroom: Judges and lawyers take civics to the people
Crossposted from Medium A new program aims to cut through myths and misunderstandings about the justice system and spark conversations about justice, government, and our shared civic responsibilities. Judges and lawyers across King County are fanning out to community groups, schools, and clubs to deliver presentations that cut through myths and misunderstandings about the justice system and its role in the three branches of government. Sponsored by the King County Bar Association (KCBA), the effort is called the Civics Stewardship Program. “This program is about meeting people where they are, outside the courtroom,… Read More
Stay home when you’re sick during cold and flu season
Fall is the season of pumpkins, Halloween, vibrant foliage, and… illnesses such as the flu, COVID-19, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Fortunately, we have vaccines for all three of those major illnesses. We also have the tried-and-true precautions that still help you stay healthy. Five ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness during cold and flu season: Get vaccinated. Stay up to date with flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccinations. Wear a mask in crowded spaces. Put on a mask when you’re elbow-to-elbow with others. Wash your hands often. Use hand sanitizer if you can’t… Read More
Get ready for Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is just around the corner—Nov. 1–15. Many employees will have some significant benefit changes for next year. Look for information mailed recently to your home address and use the following resources to learn about the changes and all of your benefit choices for 2026. Go to the Open Enrollment web page. Find everything you need in one place, including links to resources and detailed information about the changes for next year. Look for the Open Enrollment mailer sent to your home address or download a copy: Regular Employee Mailer, Transit ATU 587 Employee Mailer, Deputy… Read More
Tina Shields recognized for 40 years of service
Crossposted from the DES Express On Oct. 28, Tina Shields, P-Card Program Manager in Accounts Payable for the Finance and Business and Operations Division, will reach a rare milestone: serving King County for 40 years. The King County Council recognized Shields at their meeting on Sept. 16. “I came from a very poor background,” Shields said. “I’m one of those people that’s not going to give up even if the odds are against me.” After working at an insurance company for five years, Shields started her career at King County as an… Read More
Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month, July – August 2025
Crossposted from Metro Matters They enjoy watching the Seattle Sounders and Manchester United. One is a “Proud Country Girl” who enjoys being outdoors. They fish, hunt and travel and play softball and volleyball. Those who ride with them say one went the extra mile to return a lost phone: “I can’t tell you how happy I am to have it back, knowing it was safely with him the entire time.” Another rider talked about their ability to help a distraught passenger: “I was so impressed with her ability, in the midst of snow and… Read More
King County Metro ridership growth second highest among nation’s largest transit agencies
Crossposted from Metro Matters Marking ongoing positive ridership growth, King County Metro posted a silver medal win among the 10 largest transit agencies nationwide. Metro had an estimated 63 million boardings this year through Aug. 31, which is increase and 4.5 million higher than the same time last year. Comparing Aug. 2024 and 2025, we’re seeing about 5,000 more morning boardings, 6,600 more midday boardings and 9,500 more afternoon boardings on an average weekday. A regional rising star is the RapidRide G Line. Although the new line only just celebrated its one-year anniversary,… Read More
Disability services available for employees
This October is the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual recognition of the positive impact of people with disabilities in the American workforce. As we celebrate acknowledgement, it is helpful to be reminded of the amazing Disability Services teams taking care of and supporting King County employees. Disability Services collaborates with the individual, their healthcare provider, and the appropriate departmental personnel for an individualized analysis of reasonable job accommodations that could effectively meet health or disability needs in the workplace. View this Disability Services Overview for more information and… Read More
Start something good. Give today.
King County’s Annual Giving Drive is underway, running from Sept. 29 to Nov. 14, 2025. This year’s theme, “Start Something Good,” is a celebration of King County’s strong legacy and invites us to cultivate hope and take positive action. Every act of giving is a fresh beginning. Through the Annual Giving Drive, we can choose to grow the good by supporting causes that matter most to each of us. Check out this video to learn more about the Annual Giving Drive, ways to give, and how to join! To see the full list of Employee Giving… Read More
Two King County Airport leaders recognized by airport executives’ association
John Parrott, director of King County International Airport-Boeing Field, received the President’s Award of Distinction from the Northwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (NWAAAE) during the chapter’s annual conference in early October. Dave Decoteau, who serves as the airport’s deputy director, was elected first vice-president of NWAAAE during the same gathering in Colorado Springs. Read more. Pictured below: On left, John Parrott, Director of King County International Airport-Boeing Field, and on right, Dave Decoteau, the airport’s Deputy Director and recently elected first vice-president of NWAAAE.
King County named Public Agency of the Year
Crossposted from the DES Express Submitted by the Finance and Business Operations Division King County received the Public Agency of the Year Award at an awards ceremony last Friday evening, Oct 17. Ken Guy, director of the Finance and Business Operations Division (FBOD), accepted the award on behalf of the County, quipping, “Better never stops.” The Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council presented the award, which goes to a public agency that demonstrates strong leadership, innovative ideas, and a genuine commitment to supplier diversity and economic inclusion. It recognizes organizations that do… Read More
What keeps us going when the weeds keep growing
Crossposted from the Noxious Weeds Blog “What do you say when the [Noxious Weed] work feels futile?” This was a question that came to us earlier this season from Andrew Munson, a Noxious Weed coordinator over in San Juan County. It wasn’t a rhetorical question — he was genuinely wondering how other weed professionals handle the hard stuff: the Sisyphean [no end in sight] reputation of Noxious Weed control, the thankless days, the public skepticism, the physical toll, the moments that make you ask what’s the point? We felt it. Because we’ve… Read More
John Hurt’s career: family, service and new horizons
Within days of leaving active duty in the Army, he started as a corrections tech at the King County Jail — where both of his parents worked at the time. Decades later, he’s taking on new challenges as a supervisor. Read more. Pictured: Corrections Program Administrator John Hurt, left, is congratulated by Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention Director Allen Nance.
King County launches new Stop Hate Hotline
Recently, King County Executive Shannon Braddock, in partnership with King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn and non-profit Crisis Connections, announced the launch of the new Stop Hate Hotline, marking a significant milestone in the county’s efforts to combat hate crimes and support affected communities. The hotline can be reached at 833-786-7481 or 833-STOP-H81. “The launch of the Stop Hate Hotline represents King County’s unwavering commitment to creating a community where every resident feels safe, valued, and protected from hate and bias. This hotline provides crime victims and survivors support, resources, and assistance in reporting… Read More
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