Kathy Hartman,
Chairman, District Three

 

 

Faye Griffin,

Chairman, Pro Tem,
District One

 

 

Kevin McCasky,

District Two

 

303-271-8525

September is Workforce Development Month, a month committed to helping job seekers explore careers and assisting local businesses with their talent development.

 

Part of a statewide network, Jefferson County Workforce Center connects job seekers with companies looking for talent in the Jefferson, Gilpin and Clear Creek County areas.  Last year the center helped over 52,691 job seekers with some form of career transition.

 

 During this challenging economic time, Jefferson County Workforce Center is creating winning solutions.  During the month of September, special events are taking place in recognition of this month. The 9th Annual E3 Career and Resource Fair is Thursday, September 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Colorado Convention Center.  E3 stands for Education, Employment, and Economic Growth and is a job fair for the unemployed, underemployed, or those looking to change careers.  More than 80 employers will be in attendance, representing opportunities across Colorado. Participants are encouraged to bring a resume. Many other resources will also be available including resume critiquing, workshops on job readiness, speakers and presentations on topics such as social media.

 

Another Jefferson County Workforce Center program, Destination Employment, a three-day intensive workshop for dislocated workers, give job seekers opportunities to hone in on their job search skills and focus on marketing themselves in this challenging job market. Topics include: How to Fine-Tune Job Search Techniques, Create Your Own Marketing Plan, Updating your Resume, and Mock Interviewing.

 

For more information about the Jefferson County Workforce Center or Workforce Development Month events and activities, visit www.jeffcoworkforce.org or call 303-271-4700. A full calendar of local events taking place across the state is online at www.coworkforce.com/wd.

Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) is launching two community surveys seeking input on library programs and services. The first is a community survey targeting 4,000 randomly selected Jefferson County residents; the second is an email survey targeting 1,500 community leaders and friends of JCPL. Library executives plan to use the results to assess community needs, evaluate programs and services and help with strategic planning.

 

"We want to make sure that we're meeting real community needs as effectively and efficiently as we can," said JCPL Executive Director Marcellus Turner. "These surveys will give us valuable information about the types of library programs and services our residents value."

 

Four thousand Jefferson County residents, randomly selected from a cross section of Jefferson County households, will be asked to participate in a 2010 Library/Community Survey conducted by National Research Center (NRC) in Boulder. Targeted households will receive a pre-notification postcard in the mail, followed by a mail-in survey. A Spanish-language version of the survey will be made available on request. Residents are asked to complete and return the surveys to NRC as soon as possible, and NRC will compile and deliver survey results to the library in October.

 

JCPL is also launching an email survey to 1,500 key community leaders and friends of the library. Targeted individuals will receive an email from JCPL asking them to complete a brief online survey. The survey should only take five to 10 minutes to complete, and the online survey will be open through Sept. 1.

 

"The last time we conducted a formal survey was in 2006, and we've seen significant shifts in the technology, demographics and the economy since then," Turner noted. "We hope residents who receive a library survey will give us their feedback, so that we can effectively manage these trends."

 

For more information about these surveys, please contact Communications and Public Affairs Manager
Rebecca Winning at rebecca.winning@jeffcolibrary.org or 303-275-2203.

Jefferson County Public Information, in partnership with the city of Arvada, has launched a new series of short online videos called "Jefferson County Insights" to help inform citizens about everything from how their tax bills are calculated to the importance of dog licensing. The videos are available at www.jeffco.us/videos.htm and will appear on Arvada's KATV Channel 8.

 

The videos already completed and available online on the county's Media-on-Demand page cover a wide variety of topics:

New videos will be available throughout the year. Jeffco's Public Information team is working to produce about two videos a month.

 

"Citizen participation is essential to effective government, and Jefferson County wants to encourage involvement," said Commissioner Kathy Hartman, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. "Through the excellent and professional production of these videos, Jefferson County Insights offers citizens a new way to stay informed."

 

For more information about the Jefferson County Insights effort to bring more information online, other videos currently available and topics for the future, read the full release or visit the Media-on-Demand page of the Jefferson County website.

 

to You and Me?

 

 

 

More and more companies are going green everyday. So what is Jefferson County doing? A lot actually...With funds received from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and rebates from Xcel Energy, Jefferson County is changing the way we use energy.
 
The Facilities and Construction Management Division has concluded the evaluation of county buildings for energy efficiency and construction is set to begin to initiate the changes. The county can leverage longer payback from renewable energy technologies into the project through a combination of rebates, grant funds and low-interest financing. The net effect is an energy conservation project that will save money for years to come and includes renewable technologies, all within 10 years.
 
New lights are just the first bright idea. Solar photovoltaic arrays will be installed at the Laramie Building on the Jefferson County Government Campus, the Evergreen Road & Bridge shop, the Central Road & Bridge/Fleet facility north of Golden, the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport and the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Additionally, new parking lot lighting for the campus overflow lot will consist of off-grid solar poles with small wind turbines. The Laramie Building will also receive two small wind turbines located on the northwest side of the building.
 
The Administration and Courts Facility will be home to a demonstration solar photovoltaic array, which residents and visitors can view up close. Additionally, there will be a kiosk in the main atrium, which will monitor and provide feedback on the systems installed, so citizens can see the renewable energy being produced in real time.
 
Beyond the financial benefits, the county can expect to see a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) roughly equivalent to 4,000,000 pounds a year. It makes compelling, realistic business sense to go green in the office and also helps in our battle to save our environment.
 
From recycling to renewable energy, Jefferson County is uniquely positioned to play a key role in the community by enhancing our facilities. We can lead by example and embrace a sustainable work place.

The Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Division manned its Stormwater and Floodplain Management Program booth at
the Jeffco Fair, August 13 - 15,
to introduce many people to the world of floodplain management. Information related to the local flood hazard, flood safety, flood insurance, natural and beneficial functions of floodplains, flood warnings and the county's flood plain permit program were also provided through materials and the expertise of staff.

 

Through this interactive booth, Planning and Zoning staff made direct contact with over 1,000 people at the Jeffco Fair. They were able to answer many citizen questions related to the correlation of water quality and stormwater management. Jefferson County staff also discussed and provided guidance to citizens regarding manure management programs, private drainage maintenance and impacts to water quality from fertilizers.

 

Public outreach events, such as the one at the Jeffco Fair, allow Jefferson County to maintain a Class Six ranking in the Community Rating System, which provides reduced flood insurance premiums to Jefferson County citizens, among many other benefits.

 

 

 

Prevention:
Most foodborne illnesses can be prevented by proper food handling, preparation and storage techniques: Wash hands and surfaces often; be especially careful not to cross-contaminate; cook to proper temperatures; and chill or store foods properly. For more information on common illnesses and symptoms and the food high-risk individuals should avoid, please visit our food safety page or call our Food Safety Program at 303-271-5700.

 

Jefferson County Public Health is offering low-cost Hepatitis A vaccine for food handlers. The Hepatitis A vaccine series is available for $14.50 for the first shot and the second shot free for food handlers in the county. Please call 303-239-7007 to make an appointment. This offer will end on October 31. Food handlers have the potential to infect hundreds of people if they work while infected with Hepatitis A. Get vaccinated now!

 

Jefferson County Public Health is participating in this year's National Emergency Preparedness Month by offering educational displays in the Belmar, Evergreen, Golden and Columbine libraries. National Preparedness Month is coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and co-chaired by Citizen Corps and the Ready Campaign. Throughout the month, everyone is encouraged to focus on individual and family preparedness at home, at work and at school.

 

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) warns of an increase in rabies along the Front Range of Colorado. Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals. People and pets can get rabies from the bite of a rabies infected animal. 

 

The majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. In Colorado, there have been 99 animals test positive for rabies, including 34 skunks and 54 bats. For Colorado data, view the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's rabies table.

 

Jefferson County has submitted 71 animals for rabies testing thus far in 2010. Of these, two bats were positive for rabies. The most recent bat was found in the foothills of Jefferson County in TinyTown.

 

Dr. Jim Dale, JCPH Director of Environmental Health Services, urges pet owners to be sure their pets have current immunizations for rabies and to keep their pets from roaming free. Report any incidents to the Jefferson County Animal Control office. Call 303-271-5070 or email: Animal-Control@jeffco.us

Social media is a way to exchange information, news, images, video and conversations across Internet platforms like chat rooms, blogs, social networking sites and video sharing sites. More and more local government offices are utilizing Social Media networks to reach the public and a new way for government agencies to provide emergency and other information directly to citizens.   
 
Jefferson County Public Health uses Social Media to keep the public up to date on pertinent information and news releases. We utilized Facebook and Twitter during the H1N1 epidemic to publish information on vaccination clinics and hours. From our home page (www.jeffco.us/health) you can access our various social media pages, including our Blogs:

 

As the summer winds down, work on the West Corridor continues to progress. By the end of summer, strands of rail will be welded along the guideway for placement at a later date.

 

 

Upcoming Activities
All activities in Area 1 will continue through the summer, as well as grading, slope reconstruction and sub-ballast installation. Construction of the parking garage at Jeffco could begin in early September.

 

To get the latest information on construction and road closures, connect to the West Corridor Web site.

 

 

Are you facing troubles with a neighbor, fellow employee or ex-partner? Before involving the court system, consider Mediation Services. These exemplary and free services for individuals and agencies of Jefferson County, such as high-quality mediation, negotiation, facilitation and communication services, are offered with an ultimate goal of fostering harmony within the community.

 

When added up, from 2008 to 2009, agencies that used Mediation Services had a total minimum cost savings of $247,627. In addition, 9,043 volunteer hours were donated in 2008 and 2009, realizing cost avoidance for the county of an additional $723,520. This calculation was made based on a conservative figure of what mediators usually earn. Mediation Services saves county resources as well as your personal tax dollars!

 

Mediation can be scheduled quickly and is less expensive and time-consuming than going to court. Studies show that parties generally comply better with the terms of agreements that they have crafted themselves than they do with terms imposed upon them by someone else. Mediators don't decide anything; they help you to reach a solution to your conflict. You don't have to make any agreement unless you want to. Mediation does not take away any of your legal rights to sue in court.

 

Jefferson County Mediation Services Program Areas:

 

For more information on Mediation Services please contact Mark Loye or call 303-271-5060.

Early this summer, Young Adult Librarians at Jefferson County Public Library issued a challenge to teen readers: help us meet our Summer Reading Club goals, and we'll dye our hair the color of your choice. They kept that promise! JCPL Young Adult Librarians started Tuesday, August 24, looking like stereotypical librarians, and now they look like the rock stars they are - with blue, green, mauve and purple hair!

 

BEFORE: JCPL Librarians Rene Yaws, Arra Katona, Shelley Belleau and Jenna Obee

Young Adult Librarians at JCPL came up with this idea to motivate teens to sign up for - and complete - Summer Reading Clubs. It also helped the librarians meet their own goal: to increase the number of teen readers at their respective libraries who complete the Summer Reading Club program.

 

"We're passionate about helping kids gain solid reading skills," said Jenny Butler, young adult information services librarian, Golden Public Library. "Reading is a foundational skill that sets the stage for life-long learning; it's good for kids to get an early start."

 

"It's important for kids to keep up their reading skills during the summer months," added Arra Katona, young adult information services librarian, Lakewood Public Library. "Studies have documented a 'summer slide' in reading skills once school lets out each spring. Kids who don't read over the summer can lose the equivalent of about two months of school during the summer, and the loss compounds every year."

 

AFTER - JCPL Librarians model their new rock star look: Jenny Butler, Arra Katone, Amy Dennieff, Rene Yaws, Jenna Obee,  and Shelley Belleau

When asked about having blue, purple, green and mauve hair for the next four to six weeks, the librarians were united in their response: "If purple hair helps kids to read more, then we should all have purple hair."

 

Thanks to the Jefferson County Library Foundation for its support of Summer Reading Club, and thanks to Paul Mitchell The School Denver for donating their stylist skills.