(Airdate: December 22, 2023) This week on County Connections Commissioner Kate Dean and her co-host Jim Burke speak with Jefferson County Tax Assessor Jeff Chapman about TAXES! Jeff explains the way properties are valued and the process of drawing up those fun tax bills that start getting sent out in February, as well as the effect that voter-approved lid-lifts for Fire and Rescue and EMS will have on property owners bottom lines next year.

(Airdate: December 15, 2023) Taylor Clark spoke with Jefferson County Commissioner Greg Brotherton as Greg took stock of what has been happening at the county in 2023 as well as looking forward to 2024. We talked about a range of topics, including the pool dialogue, local delivery tax, and even AI. Housing too.

(Airdate: December 8, 2023) Taylor Clark and co-host Kate Dean talked with two passionate advocates of alternative transportation: Dave Thielk and Scott Walker (both are with the T-Lab at Local 2020) about what we can do, policy wise, to reduce our transport related greenhouse gas emissions.

(Airdate: December 1, 2023) Guest host Taylor Clark spoke with Mark McCauley, Jefferson County Administrator and Judy Shepherd, Jefferson County Finance Manager about the county budget process. The biannual budget will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners this Monday, December 4. This is the end of a process that began in October. Listen in to find out more about how the budget is created.

(Airdate: November 24, 2023) Jim Burke and co-host Heidi Eisenhour spoke with Scott Mauk, Supertendent at Chimacum Schools, and Jeff Jones, Director of Chimacum Teen Center.

(Airdate: November 17, 2023) Jim Burke and his co-host County Commisioner Kate Dean spoke with John Vezina, Director of Planning, Customer, and Government Relations at Washington State Ferries.

(Airdate: October 27, 2023) Jim Burke‘s co-host was County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour. Their guests are John Bellow of Spring Rain Farm, Nichole Witham of Chimacum Farm Stand, and Amanda Millholland of Jefferson County Farmer’s Markets. They talked about the “end of the growing season” which really never ends.

(Airdate: October 13, 2023) County Connections with Jim Burke and County Commissioner co-host, Greg Brotherton are joined by Phil Cecere, the Jefferson County Fire Marshall and Building Official. They talk about a hearing that is still open about the adoption of the new building codes, the new fire inspection program, and other amendments to our code. Phil will talk about the International Building Code and how it meshes with local code, and the delays and litigation that have been pushing back the implementation of the new 2021 code.

(Airdate: October 6, 2023) Co-hosts Jim Burke and County Commissioner Kate Dean welcome Nurse Practitioners Susan O’Brien and Melinda Bower who work at Jefferson County Public Health in Schools and the main Clinic in The QFC center. They discuss community outreach and healthcare for children, teens, and adults, and especially sexual and reproductive health.

(September 23, 2023) This week’s County Connections features Jim Burke, co-host, County Administrator Mark McCauley, and County Treasurer Stacy Prada discussing the 2024- 25 biennial budget for Jefferson County.