Finding my bearings: A commissioner's first steps

As I embark on this exciting journey as your new County Commissioner, I am eager to share with you the progress and discoveries of my first steps in this role. Over the last month, I have focused on becoming more familiar with various departments, as well as my role as a representative of the Board of County Commissioners on my assigned boards and commissions. I'm pleased to share with you some of my key takeaways from this rapid onboarding process.

First, you might find it helpful to understand the structure of our county government. Jeffco's Board of County Commissioners (BCC) consists of three elected officials supported by a county manager and a county attorney. Separate from the Board are several other elected officials who operate their own offices including Assessor, Clerk & Recorder, Coroner, District, Attorney, Sheriff, Treasurer/Public Trustee, and Surveyor. We also have two officials, the Public Health and Library directors, who are appointed by the BCC. The BCC has no direct authority over the other elected officials in the county other than we approve the budgets for all other elected officials' departments.

The BCC hires the county manager and the county attorney, and their departments (and the divisions within them) fall under the direct purview of the Board. The county attorney manages one big department with approximately 45 staff ranging from attorneys, to paralegals, to support staff. The county manager, however, oversees eight departments including: Operations, Business Innovation & Technology, Strategy, Innovation & Finance, Public Affairs, Development & Transportation, Human Resources, Human Services, and Parks & Conservation. In total, Jefferson County employs approximately 3,000 people and provide services to more than half a million residents.

Most of our departments contain several divisions within it. For example, the Development & Transportation department has five divisions, such as Planning & Zoning and Building Safety. The Human Services department has the highest number of divisions, seven, whereas the Public Affairs and Human Resources departments have none. So far, I have met one-on-one for an orientation with six out of the eight departments, as well as several key divisions. In an effort to deepen our understanding and appreciation of each county department's contributions, I will be featuring a different department in every newsletter, providing insights into their roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments.

As I continue to learn and grow in my role as County Commissioner, I am grateful for the warm welcome and collaboration from each department, and I look forward to fostering these relationships to better serve our county. My orientation process has been an enlightening journey, and the past month has laid a solid foundation for my tenure as Commissioner. I am excited to build upon these initial connections and dive deeper into the intricacies of our county's operations in the coming months.

The Board of County Commissioners have received a number of calls, texts, and emails from constituents in the last few weeks regarding several new White House Executive Orders. In particular, most expressed concerns about the potential impact of a federal funding freeze. At this point it’s unclear how the orders will impact Jefferson County, but here is what we are considering as this issue unfolds: 

In 2023, the county received about $105 million in federal revenue from approximately 130 different awards. The county relies on these federal dollars to provide a broad range of critical services such as food assistance, early childhood education, highway safety, crime victim assistance, employment services, child support, medical assistance, emergency management, and preventative health services. Once our 2024 audit is complete, we will have more recent numbers. 

Additionally, in 2023 we administered approximately $110 million in direct federal assistance to our community. These are known as "pass through" funds that we receive from the federal government and give directly to the intended recipients, mostly in the form of Medicaid.

A federal judge has temporarily stopped the federal funding freeze. As we wait to receive clarity on the various orders, we will continue advocating for our county at the state and federal levels, as well as monitor the situation closely. We are in the process of developing a web page that will be linked from the county’s homepage where you can track and receive updates. In the meantime, we will continue to provide essential services and resources to our community.

As noted above, it has been a month filled with exploration and discovery as I navigate my new role as County Commissioner, gaining valuable insights into the inner workings of our bounty's various departments and divisions. The first department I wish to highlight this month is our Public Affairs team.

They are a small but mighty group of folks who work with the Board of County Commissioners, County Manager, and all county departments to engage Jefferson County residents, visitors, and businesses through inclusiveness, partnership and innovation. Their mission is simple, to engage the Jefferson County community, and they achieve this through a variety of ways, such as leading our strategic communications and county branding, building relationships, and sharing resources and knowledge about the county and our programs.

The Public Affairs team offers a variety ways to connect with Jeffco including a digital newsletter, the Engage Jeffco Podcast, and various social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. My personal favorite are the "Get to Know Jeffco" video series on YouTube. I'll close by posting one of the first videos in the series called, "Getting to Know Jeffco: The cost of a snowstorm" (see below).

I want to thank Director Cassie Pearce, and her whole team, for meeting with me one-on-one to educate me on the role of Public Affairs in Jeffco. The dedicated professionals in this department have provided me with valuable insights into their vital role in maintaining transparency and fostering community engagement, and I look forward to working together to strengthen these efforts. If you have any questions or need to get in touch with the department, click HERE.

Once again, the National Weather Service is forecasting another round of winter storms this week. As severe weather events become more frequent and intense, it’s vital to provide support for those in our community who may be affected, particularly those experiencing homelessness. The county has compiled a variety of resources for shelter, safety, and essential services during severe cold weather conditions. To view these resources on the Jeffco website, click HERE.