| Jefferson County Workforce Center - One of Jeffco's Best Kept Secrets |
 Contributed by Kris Kinzli, Marketing Coordinator, Jefferson County Workforce Center
Simply put, the Jefferson County Workforce Center is part of a statewide network that contributes to our region's economic vitality by matching job seekers with employment opportunities. The center has a dual mission: first is to help our citizens with career transitions; second is to help businesses with their "talent development," meaning, any issue a business is having with hiring, training, retention or expansion. Nearly 30,000 people with career transitions and helped place over 13,000 people into new jobs in 2007 by the Jeffco Workforce Center. If you or someone you know is an active job seeker, the Workforce Center is a wonderful resource. There are computers, copy machines, fax machines and workshops for your job search strategy, which includes resume writing, networking, techniques for interviewing and much more. All services are FREE to the job seeker.
In addition, if you are a business and you have a job opening, please contact the Business Services Team at 303-271-4718. Job openings can be posted at no charge and candidates will be pre-qualified before you meet them. These candidates come from a variety of backgrounds, from entry level to people with multiple levels of education and skill sets. Whether your needs are for long term, seasonal workers, permanent workers or short term, the Workforce Center can help. The Jefferson County Workforce Center is located at 3500 Illinois Street in Golden. Call 303-271-4700 for more information or visit www.jeffcoworkforce.org. |
| The 'Cigarette is Dead' Campaign |
Contributed by Nancy Braden, Jefferson County Public Health Communications Coordinator Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment's Tobacco Prevention Initiative joins the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment State Tobacco Education & Prevention Partnership (STEPP), and other public health partners nationwide in support of "The Cigarette Is Dead" campaign.
"We're asking people to join the campaign and drive a nail into the cigarette's coffin," explains Donna Viverette, JCDHE Tobacco Prevention Initiative Supervisor. You can visit www.QuitDoingIt.com and use the interactive timeline to tell the world when the cigarette was dead for you -- when it happened, what happened and why. Participants can also upload photos and videos that add further meaning to your moment.
Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, indicates that fewer adults in the United States smoke. Approximately 19.8 percent of U.S. adults, or 43.4 million people, were current smokers in 2007, down from 20.8 percent in 2006. Tobacco use continues to inflict substantial health and financial costs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking causes at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths, including more than 80 percent of lung cancer deaths, and 80 percent of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking is responsible for early cardiovascular disease and death. As a result, about half of all long-term smokers, particularly those who began smoking as teens, die prematurely, many in middle age.
"Quitting all forms of tobacco is one of the single most important steps people can take to improve their health and protect the health of nonsmoking family and friends," says Donna Viverette. "This is a good time to take a step for health and quit. Tobacco users can more than double their likelihood of successfully quitting by getting support and planning their quit day in advance."
- For more information and/or resources for quitting tobacco, please call Donna Viverette, JCDHE Tobacco Prevention Initiative at 303-275-7555.
- For more information on The Cigarette is Dead campaign visit: www.QuitDoingIt.com.
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| Transparent Jeffco - Inform and Engage |
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Transparency in government means better visibility, openness, and accessibility to local government financial activity, leadership, results, and communication. Jeffco officials are committed to this new feature of the Jefferson County Web site to include citizens in open, accessible government and to help shape this positive and beneficial path.
This new initiative, Transparent Jeffco, will have more information about the new Web feature and will provide you an opportunity to tell us your priorities and what you'd like to see. The first phase of the Web site was released October 15, 2008. Upcoming phases or releases will contain more content based on feedback from you, the citizen.
For questions or more information on how you can get involved, contact us at transparentjeffco@jeffco.us. You can access the Transparent Jeffco feature through the graphic on the home page of the Jefferson County Web site.
County leaders and citizens need to work together in shaping the direction of Transparent Jeffco. Help us build a stronger Jefferson County by telling us what matters to you - please get involved!
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| World AIDS Day an Important Reminder of the Disease |
Contributed by Nancy Braden, Jefferson County Public Health Communications Coordinator World AIDS Day, December 1, 2008, is about increasing awareness, raising money, fighting prejudice, and improving education about HIV/AIDS. The day serves as an important reminder to everyone that HIV/AIDS has not gone away. Since the beginning of the HIV and AIDS epidemic, more than half a million people have died of AIDS in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Surveillance Report. That is equivalent to the entire population of Jefferson County. There are currently more than one million people living with HIV and AIDS in the United States and approximately one-fifth of these are unaware of their infection, which means the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS is still very much present. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 56,000 Americans are infected with HIV each year. Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment offers HIV Counseling and Testing services. Please call 303-239-7078 or visit the JCDHE Web site.
- Prevent HIV Infection
Do not share works, including needles, syringes or cotton, if you use injectable drugs. The only sure way of avoiding getting HIV from sex is to abstain from having sex. If you choose to have sex, latex condoms (rubbers) are good protection against the virus if they don't break or tear. When used correctly, latex condoms rarely break. Get more information on HIV/AIDS and how it's transmitted.
- Get Tested
Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment offers anonymous and confidential HIV counseling and testing. You can choose to have a "rapid test" and receive results during the visit. Or, you can choose a blood draw test and return to the clinic within seven to ten days to receive results. Get tested and ask your partner to get tested. You'll feel better when you know you're both safe. Call 303-239-7078 to make an appointment.
- Learn more about what the United States is doing to prevent and control the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site.
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| Santa is Flying In! |
 Come one, come all on December 5 at 6:30 p.m. to see Santa arrive at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport by helicopter from the North Pole!!
While you wait to tell Santa your wish list, enjoy snacks, hot beverages, holiday movies and seasonal music.
This event is open to the public and admittance and parking are free, but expect a line to see Santa.
The RMMA is located at 11755 Airport Way, Broomfield. For more information, call 303-271-4580 or visit our Web site at www.flyrmma.com.
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| The Scoop on Dog Poop |
Contributed by Jefferson County Planning & Zoning Under our federally mandated Stormwater Permit, Jefferson County is required to implement programs to improve the quality of surface water in our urban environment. Rainwater or snowmelt flows into storm drains and is transported to our ponds, lakes and creeks. Because this water does not receive treatment, any contamination washed away with the stormwater ends up in the surface water. A large contributor of fecal coliform contamination in stormwater is animal waste. Dog waste is one of the major sources of fecal coliform in urban streams, and is considered the most controllable sources. Pet waste can be a significant health concern for humans and other pets. Pet waste contains E-coli bacteria and may be infected with microscopic parasitic organisms such as roundworm and heartworm. E-coli and parasites can be transmitted to humans, with children and the elderly being particularly at risk. In areas where pet waste has not been picked up, including playing fields, school grounds, parks, open space, or residential lawns and rights-of-way, people, especially children, can get pet waste on their clothes, shoes, and hands. The E-coli bacteria or parasitic eggs from the pet waste can then be transmitted or possibly ingested. Not only is pet waste a health risk and aesthetic concern, it is also a significant environmental contaminant. Increased coliform levels are caused by rainwater or snowmelt transporting bacteria through storm drains into our streams without treatment. Research by the Center for Watershed Protection [1] showed two studies that indicated 95% of fecal coliform in urban streams are of non-human origin, and 20% can be matched specifically to dog waste. Pet owners who fail to pick up after their pets adversely affect water quality in creeks, ecosystems in stream corridors, and humans who might come into contact with creek water. It is important for pet owners to be considerate of others and pick up after their pets on walks and in public areas. Proper disposal of pet waste can be either in the trash, down the toilet or buried at the pet owner's property. Of these three methods, disposal of pet waste in the trash is recommended. If you would like to know more about water quality or the Jefferson County Stormwater Program, call 303-271-8700, or visit the Planning & Zoning Web site, Stormwater page. [1] Genetic studies conducted by Alderiso et al. (1996) and Trial et al. (1993).
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| 2009 Proposed Budget Presentation for Jefferson County |
 Jefferson County has presented a proposed 2009 budget to the Board of County Commissioners that will allow the county to continue to provide critical services to citizens despite the current economic slowdown. Jefferson County Budget Director Jon Johnson presented the 2009 proposed budget to the BCC at the Board's Hearing on November 25, 2008. The presentation included the highlights of the budget's proposed revenues and expenditures, including capital improvement projects.
Listen to the November 25 budget presentation in MP3 format if you couldn't attend the hearing.
Adoption of the 2009 budget is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9. The hearing will be held at 9:00 a.m. in Hearing Room One of the Jefferson County Administration & Courts Facility (100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO). Citizens are welcome to attend the budget hearing and comment on the proposed budget. The proposed 2009 Jefferson County budget totals $394.9 million, excluding interfund transfers. This is a 3.3 percent (or $12.5 million) increase over the 2008 fiscal year and includes $52.1 million in capital improvement projects for the county. Johnson emphasized that the 2009 proposed budget maintains the fund balance reserves at 10 percent for all operating funds, which ensures that the county can continue to provide services in the event of unforeseen emergencies or unexpected revenue shortfalls. It is estimated that total 2009 Jefferson County revenues will increase 2.2 percent from 2008. Jefferson County property tax revenue is expected to increase less than 1.0 percent, due primarily to a slowdown in new construction and because 2009 is a non-reassessment year. The Highway User Tax is expected to be flat for 2009, while a decrease of 5.3 percent is projected in fees for services such as building permits, building inspections, recording fees and traffic impact fees, mainly due to the decline in the construction and housing market. Johnson said the Auto Ownership Tax is also projected to decrease by approximately 5 percent from 2008, due to a decrease in new car sales. As part of the budget process, all elected officials and department heads were asked to meet established budget targets based on available revenues. The 2009 proposed budget includes a $3.4 million increase in the supplies category due to fuel and petroleum-based road maintenance materials, and a $2.7 million increase in direct assistance payments for social services programs from available grant funds. The proposed budget contains a decrease of $7.6 million in debt service requirements due to the retirement of the 2002 Certificates of Participation, which were issued to pay for county facility construction. The proposed budget also includes a 3 percent timed merit pool increase for employees that will be based on performance as determined by each department head or elected official, which is funded by a portion of 2008 Property Tax revenue that was set aside for 2009. Johnson also provided an overview of some of the highlights that fall into the $52.1 million capital improvements budget:
- $14.7 million for election equipment upgrade and replacement
- $9.3 million in road and bridge infrastructure improvements, including:
- Intersection improvements at Bowles and Wadsworth and at Quincy and Kipling
- The widening of Chatfield Avenue from Garrison to Simms
- The realignment of Jefferson County Parkway (part of the RTD Light Rail project)
- An assessment for improvement along State Highway 93
$7.6 million for technology enhancements, including:
- Assessor's system implementation, phase I
- Upgrade to the Sheriff's Office computer aided dispatch system
$3.2 million for Open Space development and improvements, including:
- Clear Creek Canyon Park parking lot
- Hildebrand Ranch Open Space
- North Table Mountain Open Space
A $3 million contribution for the construction of the new Table Mountain Animal Center to be built at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds
$2 million for security improvements to county facilities
$1.3 million for Jefferson County Library facility and technology improvements
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| Jeffco Public Calendar |
 The new, combined Jeffco Public Meeting Calendar was developed to make it easier for citizens to identify public meetings taking place in Jefferson County by placing relevant meetings and events on one Internet-accessible calendar. While state statute requires Jeffco to formally announce many public meetings, the purpose of posting them to the Public Meeting Calendar is to inform as many citizens as possible so they can attend those relevant to them. By attending meetings, citizens can have greater insight into county operations and will be able to actively participate in identifying county priorities and to contribute to decisions made by county officials that touch their daily lives. Attending meetings is a great way to learn more about county operations and actively participate in your local government. The Public Meeting Calendar is color-coded so you can easily find the types of meetings that interest you - whether a County Commissioner hearing, a community meeting with Planning & Zoning or a deadline for the Elections department. Just click on the link within the box to read more about a meeting. Our Public Meeting Calendar allows you to view:
- Current and past meetings and important dates
- Planning & Zoning Comprehensive Master Plan, community meetings, and Planning Commission hearings
- Open Space Advisory Committee public meetings
- Town Hall meetings
- Community Development Board Meetings
- County holidays and building closures
Don't forget to check back often for new meetings and updates! More will be added in the coming months.
Get involved! To view this month's current public meetings and important dates select the link above or click on the "Public Meeting Calendar" graphic on the right side of the Jefferson County Web site home page.
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Did you know that antibiotics don't work for viruses like colds, most sore throats or the flu? It's true, antibiotics don't fight viruses, they fight bacteria.