County Connections

(Airdate: January 23, 2026) This week on County Connections co-hosts Commissioner Greg Brotherton and KPTZ’s Jim Burke welcome Shawn Frederick, Director of Central Services. They discuss what Central Services provides to the workforce of Jefferson County Government and the public. They also delve into Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the way that the county is integrating Darwin AI into the workflow.

Also, a reminder that the BOCC public health (and safety) report will be broadcast on Monday, February 2 at 9:45am during the Jim B. Show. Listeners with public health and safety questions for Public Health Officer, Dr. Allison Berry or Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management , may send email to [email protected] by Friday January 30th at noon.

(Airdate: January 16, 2026) This week on County Connections. Commissioner Heather Dudley-Nolette and Jim Burke speak with Viola Ware, Director of Housing and Community Services for OlyCap, about the Point in Time Count PIT of homeless sheltered and unsheltered people in Jefferson County. The PIT count takes place on January 29, 2026. This important count helps determine how the county receives and allocates funding for services to support this vulnerable population. Anyone wanting to find out more, volunteer, or donate, can go to https://olycap.org/.

(Airdate: January 9, 2026) KPTZ’s Taylor Clark and Jefferson County County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhower were joined by Joey Deese from Waste Connections, who is on the Transfer Station Task Force and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC); as well as Al Cairns, the Jefferson County Solid Waste Manager. We talked about the planned relocation of the Transfer Station, which is about five years out and planning is underway now. There will be a special meeting of the Solid Waste Facilities Task Force & Board of County Commissioners Joint Meeting at the Tri-Area Community Center on January 26, 2026 at 6pm. where you can find out more.

(Airdate: January 2, 2026) KPTZ’s Taylor Clark and Jefferson County Commissioner Greg Brotherton were joined by Thera Black, the former coordinator of the PRTPO (Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization, www.prtpo.org) and much of the discussion was about the Hood Canal Bridge.

(Airdate: December 19, 2025) KPTZ’s Taylor Clark was joined by Jefferson County Commissioner Heather Dudley-Nollette and our guest was Siobhan Canty – CEO of Jefferson Community Foundation. We talked about both the impact of government budget shortfalls on our non-profits, as well as the importance of public engagement of all types in our community services and government.

(Airdate: December 12, 2025) KPTZ’s Taylor Clark and co-host Jefferson County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour were joined by Jamie Maciejewski, the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County, as well as Sam Harper, the county’s Director of Waste Management and the manager of the new Port Hadlock Sewer system. We talked about the Mason Street Project, Habitat for Humanity’s new Port Hadlock neighborhood, where 138 new homes will be built, providing affordable housing. Availability of sewer connections within the Hadlock Urban Growth Area was a crucial element of the project. More information about Habitat including information about volunteering and also about how to buy a home can be found on their website at https://habitatejc.org/.

(Airdate: December 5, 2025) KPTZ’s Taylor Clark, sitting in for Jim Burke, welcomed Greg Brotherton, Jefferson County Commissioner (District 3) and we explored things he is frustrated about and things he is grateful for. Just in time for Thanksgiving.

(Airdate: November 28, 2025) County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour and Jim Burke talked about food insecurity and the impact cuts to government funding and grants to local food outreach organizations plus alternatives to Black Friday including Giving Tuesday. Their guests were:
– Oceana Sawyer ([email protected]), Nourishing Beloved Community (NBC) https://www.nourishingbelovedcommunity.com/. Nourishing Beloved Community emerged from a growing commitment to practice interdependence and develop resilience among People of the Global Majority on the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington.
– Roland Faragher-Horwell, President of the Board of Jefferson County Food Banks https://www.jcfba.org/
– Siobhan Canty, Director of The Jefferson Community Foundation, https://www.givejefferson.org/, https://jcfgives.org/

(Airdate: November 21, 2025) Instead of the usual County Commissioner co-host , this week Jim Burke is joined by Pinky Faeria Mingo, Director of Environmental Health and Water Quality of Jefferson County. Jim and Pinky are joined by two others in that Department: Becca Maurer, Code Compliance Specialist and Carter Erickson, Environmental Health Manager.

Becca talks about an alternative program that is relatively new that helps bring property owners into compliance in a collaborative way instead of the usual punitive model, (similar to diversionary programs in Superior Court.)

Carter explains the process for new septic systems and remediation of existing systems. They both stress the importance of clean up of environmental hazards that affect water quality and the general environment in Jefferson County.

(Airdate: November 24, 2025) County Administrator Josh Peters Joins co-hosts Jim Burke and Heidi Eisenhour to discuss a potential budget shortfall for 2026 in excess of $5 million. They discuss how we got here and where potential cuts might come from. There will be a public hearing during the BOCC meeting on Monday December 8.