by Becky Baker, Building Safety Director
comments open from August 18 until September 6

Jefferson County’s Division of Building Safety has implemented the Amanda Mobile Pal, a new inspection feature for roofing inspections. Inspectors can log in via a wireless laptop in their vehicle that is able to transmit inspection results real time.

Amanda Mobile Pal also enables inspectors to enter their inspection results at the job site, which can then sent automatically via email to contractors. This allows the county to push information to the contractors immediately after the inspection is done.

Receiving inspection results from the Mobile Pal allows contractors to proceed to the next building step hours sooner if the inspection is accepted. When an inspection is rejected, the contractor immediately knows what course of action to take to correct the issues – saving valuable time. Mobile Pal also has the ability to research past history of a particular job site and the ability to schedule inspections in the field if needed.

If an inspection is in a remote area where there is no wireless connectivity, the unit retains the information and is downloaded when connectivity resumes.The units also are equipped with a GPS system that contains the inspector’s daily inspection list allowing voice activated directions to each site at the touch of a button. This capability is very valuable in a county as large as Jeffco, a large portion of which is mountainous terrain, and enables inspectors to locate job sites in a timely manner.

The current inspection results that can be emailed to contractors will include address, permit number, permit type, inspector name, inspection date, inspection type, inspection results and inspection comments. Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing inspection results will be available via email in the near future.

The online system, Jeffco Permit Search, which allows contractors to pull information off the website using permit numbers, addresses or contractor information and is updated four times daily, is another option for citizens and contractors to learn inspection results. Registered eNtraprise users will receive emails and are also able to look up inspection results off the eNtraprise site immediately after the inspection is completed in the field.

For more information or to register for eNtraprise, contact Ed Peck at 303-271-8258 or epeck@jeffco.us.

by Jennifer Fairweather, Human Resources Director
comments open from July 28 until August 16

As you may have noticed, Jefferson County often uses supplemental questions along with the application process for many of our positions -- and so do many other organizations. These questions are used like interview questions to better assess the knowledge, skills and abilities of the candidates within the applicant pool.

Unfortunately, many candidates don’t completely answer the questions. This makes it difficult to assess these candidates, especially compared to others who do provide very thorough answers.

For the best results, provide concise yet detailed answers, draft the answers in another document before submitting the application, read them aloud and double check your spelling.

It may seem like a lot of work, but the extra effort is definitely worth it.

by Cynthia Shaw McLaughlin, Boettcher Mansion Director
comments open from May 7 until May 26

While the Boettcher Mansion may be best known for the weddings and receptions it regularly hosts on top of Lookout Mountain, our 1917 stone and timber estate is way more than just a “party place.” Built as a summer home for Colorado entrepreneur Charles Boettcher, the former “Lorraine Lodge” has become a model of adaptive reuse able to function on a variety of levels:
>> as a special events venue which first opened its doors to the public back in 1975;
>> as a local landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984;
>> as the headquarters for the Colorado Arts & Crafts Society, a small non-profit organization incorporated on site in 1997.

Much like Charles himself – who started out in the hardware trade before branching out in cement manufacturing, sugar processing and meat packing – the Mansion over time has developed a multifaceted personality that appeals to a wide range of visitors: couples seeking the perfect setting for their wedding, professionals looking to brainstorm or bond at a corporate retreat, or cultural types wanting to satisfy an academic yearning.

Planning for so many varied events sometimes keeps the staff in suspended animation, but we really wouldn’t have it any other way. With each new day there’s always a new experience awaiting us and our customers. This never-ending sense of anticipation is what enables us to stay fresh, willing and able to delight our guests with the kind of event for which the Mansion has become a destination within Jefferson County.

A groom and his party show their creative side by the colorful socks they wore with their tuxedos.

by Tim Carl, Development & Transportation Director
comments open from December 2 until December 20

The other day I stopped by the County’s Planning & Zoning Division and saw folks waiting to be helped on a variety of matters from zoning reviews for a building permit to questions about what they could do on their land. It struck me: we spend a tremendous amount of time meeting with people face to face. Does this make sense from an operational and efficiency standpoint? I say yes. Nothing can replace the human element in what we do.

As a department head in our organization, I have pushed for more use of technology in the way we do business. Today, a citizen can apply for certain types of building permits online. We have seen about a 58% increase in this service. Yes, it helps reduce people traveling to the County building and, in many ways, creates more efficiency in how we operate as an organization.

Over this past year, we have had to reduce the number of employees in our Planning & Zoning Division and Building & Safety Division by three people. That’s a hard thing to do when you stop and think about the human element. Fortunately, we made up those savings through vacancy and retirement. But I still believe that the nature of what we do -- providing service to our citizens on a daily basis -- means that the most important asset I can protect as a department head remains my employees. More often than not, survey responses back from customers laud the importance of face-to-face contact and how helpful our staff was to them.

In the end, we’ll continue to make strides to be as efficient an organization as possible, but we will not remove the human element – it’s simply too important. When our County Commissioners recently held citizen meetings throughout Jefferson County, a resounding theme came back from many – we pay for services and we appreciate what we receive. That’s enough for me to say: Jefferson County remains a customer-friendly environment where you can talk to someone face to face.

by Jefferson County Administrator Jim Moore
comments open from November 16 until December 5

Transparency in government kills apathy. That’s my firm belief and reason for my optimism. Forums like this blog and other social media encourage citizens to become involved in shaping decisions that affect their lives. Citizens’ collective and individual voices reach decision makers with as much clarity and pointedness as a message delivered by a lobbyist. For the first time in history, we have the technological ability to conduct mass, multi-party, two-way conversations between government officials, elected leaders and citizens. Now, if we don’t involve citizens in government, it’s because we don’t want to.

In my 35-plus years of public service, I’ve never been so encouraged by the opportunities for better government than now. I am hopeful because I see a national appetite for transparency marking the beginning of a shift in the way we do representative democracy. The days of back room deal-making are soon to be gone. Forever. We are connected. Citizens now have the opportunity, and indeed the responsibility, to participate more fully than was possible just a couple of years ago.

Soon, transparency and increasing levels of citizen involvement will be a fundamental expectation of government at every level. This is good, because the end result will be better government. So thank you for taking the time to become involved. I encourage you to check out our Citizen Input Town Hall meetings information on Transparent Jeffco. We will be having more of those in the future, so watch for those announcements.

by Lynn Johnson, Human Services Director
comments open from September 11 until October 1

At the Jefferson County Department of Human Services, volunteers from schools, service programs, faith communities, and businesses are compassionate and committed to helping families who are in need. We offer many volunteer opportunities, including:

• helping families complete applications


• join the Hospitality Team


• mentor parents, teens and/or children


• help teachers and children as a Head Start classroom helper


• help with special events


• provide clerical assistance for JCDHS employees


• we encourage you to suggest creative volunteer opportunities that best use your talents and time.

Volunteers assist families respectfully. And JCDHS employees are grateful to volunteers for their generous contributions of time and talents. At JCDHS, our volunteer program fosters personal connections and breakthrough discoveries that eliminate stereotypes and cultivate a supportive environment.

For more information, please contact Dawn Riley Duval (Volunteer Recruiter) at 303-217-4379 or via email. We hope to hear from you soon.

Posted by: Julie | Category: General 

by Dixie Shear, Resident Engineer, Jefferson County Highways & Transportion
comments open from August 10 until August 29

The features of the West Chatfield project, for which Jefferson County contracted design services from Merrick & Company, are intended to significantly increase vehicle capacity at this busy intersection so drivers spend less time waiting. Phase I plans are to widen the intersection of West Chatfield Avenue and South Wadsworth Boulevard.

What has been done so far?
>> Advance warning signs, traffic control, have been placed on northbound and southbound Wadsworth, and on eastbound and westbound Chatfield.

>> The right turn lane for southbound Wadsworth to westbound Chatfield has been closed. Alternate routes are advised.

>> Crews are also clearing and removed sidewalk on the north side of Chatfield. Erosion controls have also been installed.

>> New storm sewer, manholes, inlets, and a surface drainage channel will be constructed in the northwest corner of the intersection.

What is planned for next month?
>> New curb, gutter and sidewalk will be placed on the north side of Chatfield.

>> The first of four concrete islands will be installed at the northwest corner for future traffic signal upgrades.

>> Asphalt paving is planned in August to finish the northwest corner of the intersection work area.

>> A new wooden fence will also be installed on the north side of Chatfield from Wadsworth to Carr.

Need More Information?
Contact the Project Engineer, Gary Campbell, at the Jefferson County Highways & Transportation Division (303)271-8495. Project plans and more information can also be viewed on the Highways & Transportion Web site.

by Rusty Collins, Jefferson County CSU Extension Director

2009 marks a critical time in our nation’s economy. With the changing economy, more people are again looking to Extension to teach families about small acreage management issues, like growing their own food and living a more sustainable lifestyle. The need for Extension and the information we provide to consumers is higher than ever.

Extension is here to serve the public in Jefferson County. We bring relevant, research-based information from the University and make sure the information gets to the public that is in need. We can provide assistance on everything from home gardening to planning for retirement. We have Extension Agents on staff who are here to answer questions and provide direction to our fellow citizens in Jefferson County.

You can:
>> Bring us your diseased plants and we can diagnose them.
>> Bring us an odd bug that you found in your home and we will identify it for you.
>> Call on our Lawn Check program and an Extension Agent will arrive at your home to diagnose your lawn problem and provide tips to improve your yard.
>> Call if you have questions on food canning and preservation.
>> Engage with the office to learn about planning for retirement and family financial planning.
>> Take courses in our Master Gardener and Native Plant Master programs.
>> Participate in 4H Youth Development and support your children in their efforts to become leaders in life.
>> Sign-up your 4th and 5th graders for our award winning Environmental Day Camp named Eagles Nest Owls Roost (ENOR).

We work collaboratively with our partners and stakeholders to enhance the quality of life for all Jefferson County citizens.

For more information on the CSU Extension office in Jefferson County, check out our Web site.

You may also call our office at (303) 271-6620, or come visit us at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds at 15200 West Sixth Avenue in Golden.

by Jim Moore, County Administrator

The headline on the front page of Sunday’s Denver Post – “Jeffco Pay Still Untamed” – and the follow-up editorial and subsequent news story had an interesting perspective on Jeffco’s employee compensation. I would like to offer some additional insight and facts about the “bonus” subject.

The term “bonus” is especially volatile and emotional given recent national coverage of AIG and other firms receiving federal bailouts. While it makes for some great headlines, to infer that our bonuses are similar to those that have engendered national outrage would be inaccurate. We have a very different definition and use of "bonus" here at Jeffco. Most “bonuses” given to Jeffco employees have been in lieu of base pay increases.

The vast majority of people I’ve talked to would prefer a base pay increase to a bonus, as the base pay increases “carry forward” in future years, making the salary higher, and more likely to grow each year. A "bonus" as we use the term, is just a one-time reward payment, as compared to a percentage increase of base pay. Bonuses and raises are used to recognize and reward employee performance. With the exception of public safety employees, most organizations consider this a far more effective way of recognizing good work than giving cost of living increases or annual step increases based largely on tenure in a position.

Omitted from the Post stories was the fact that our accounting practices lump several types of payments into one budget line item called “bonus." Something coming from the "bonus" line item can be things like a one-time lump sum payment to an employee who has temporarily taken on the responsibilities of a vacant management position while it is being filled. That has recently been changed, and going forward, these different types of payments will be recorded separately in our accounting systems. So, next year if a follow-up story is written, a more accurate picture will be possible.

The Sunday story reported a 700 percent increase in money spent on bonuses from 2004 to 2008. While it sounds astronomical to casual readers, in real numbers it was an increase from $33,768 to $280,843.

Although all this talk of bonuses gets complicated and convoluted, it is important to point out that the average pay increase countywide for Jefferson County employees over the last five years was 4.0 percent. The average pay increase for managers at the division or department head level countywide over the last five years was 3.2 percent. Jefferson County’s total gross amount expended for salaries in 2008 was $156.6 million, while the amount given in bonuses, lump sum payments and acting pay was $280,843. That amounted to 0.18 percent of the total gross wages last year.

At first glance, these figures appear to be at odds with those presented by the Denver Post, but they are not. The figures presented by the Post are also accurate. This is a great example of how different messages can be taken from the same facts depending on how they are presented, and further illustrates the need for open and transparent government.

The importance of our Transparent Jeffco feature on our Web site has never been so obvious, and we are working behind the scenes every day to increase and improve the user friendliness of the information presented on Transparent Jeffco. As we further develop Transparent Jeffco, we will continue to make complete and accurate information available to our citizens. Our hope is that by doing so, citizens will gain a better understanding of the challenges of public service and will continue to appreciate the outstanding job that Jefferson County employees perform in service to our community.

by Tim Carl, Development & Transportation Director

At Jefferson County, we want our customers to have a superior experience when it comes to customer service. We strive to meet this goal 100 percent of the time, but sometimes we do not quite get there. Over the years, I have witnessed service that did not live up to the standards we set for ourselves. But I want to assure you that we use these situations as an opportunity to learn how we can improve our overall customer service.

As the Development & Transportation Department Head, I have the responsibility of overseeing divisions in the county that probably receive the highest number of calls complaining about issues. It could be a neighbor upset about weeds, trash or debris on his next door neighbor’s property or when the county’s snowplow truck will come to push snow away on a local street. No matter what the complaint, concern or issue – they all have meaning and they all demand a prompt and timely response.

In Corporate America, the inability to meet consumer needs means you may not stay in business. Government may not be a corporation, but we can still apply a practical business approach to what we do. Our strengths rest within our employees and the level of service we provide to you.

Here is a great example: In our Planning & Zoning Division, we often see people who want to understand what they can do with their land. Land use can be complicated and confusing, but we are doing our best to keep it simple! We have set up Web pages that walk you through the development and permit processes. We have a variety of searchable online databases that allow you to find information related to zoning, floodplains, access, water, sewer services, etc. – all at your fingertips.

And when you come in to our office, we estimate a wait time and if it exceeds ten minutes, we get more staff to help assist our customers. When you need to find information, we walk you through the steps, showing you how and where to get that information; sometimes even walking with you to another office or division in our building. And we guarantee our times for reviews and development procedures. We simply want to provide the highest and best level of service to you.

If you have seen situations that could be improved, I want to know. Send me an email or call me directly at 303-271-8510.

A blog posting by Kathy Hartman, Chair, Board of County Commissioners

I want to take this opportunity to wish all of Jeffco’s citizens a happy and safe Thanksgiving. It is my honor and privilege to serve you as your commissioner and as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners.

There are so many things I am thankful for:
• Living and working in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
• My tremendously supportive husband and family.
• Representing a community that values hard work, family, the environment and helping our neighbors.
• Working with many other dedicated public servants.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge two groups of Jefferson County employees who have gone above and beyond in serving our citizens in the last several months. First, thank you to the Elections staff and all of our election judges, who handled record turnout, one of the longest ballots in memory and continually changing rules with grace and efficiency. Under the leadership of Pam Anderson and Josh Liss, they made Jefferson County look good.

I also want to acknowledge the work of Jefferson County’s Human Services employees. As the economy has become more difficult, they have been inundated with people looking for jobs, applying for Food Stamps, or otherwise feeling helpless and desperate. Our employees continue to provide a cheerful, helpful response at a time when they are feeling overwhelmed by their workload.

I feel blessed to work for the citizens of Jefferson County with our team of 2,800+ employees – from Human Services to Road and Bridge to the Health Department, the Sheriff’s Office and all the others who regularly go the extra mile to make sure our citizens receive excellent service.

May you all have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

A blog posting by Jefferson County Administrator Jim Moore

Complete and accurate information is the best antidote to the spin and sometimes deliberate misinformation that has become far too commonplace in our world today. The most powerful force in a representative democracy is a well-informed and engaged citizenry. That’s what Transparent Jeffco is all about.

We at Jefferson County see transparency as a promise to our citizens to conduct county business honestly, openly and forthrightly, so citizens know exactly what goes on when public officials transact business on their behalf. It is a promise of accountability and nothing facilitates better government than openness and accountability.