From Evergreen to the 7th Fleet

U.S. Navy Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Ty Berger, who is from Evergreen, climbs up a ladder aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

cannot a ord another full-time employee and is unable to allocate other employees to help with records.

sure if a quoted statement is necessary for the department.

“I think this is important, and I wish you guys would take this one seriously,” Commissioner Sean Wood said.

e consultant’s report had this to say about the value of creating a mission statement:

“ is process in the Clear Creek County Sheri ’s O ce of moving the entire organization over time into a Vision driven, Mission focused strategy will develop unity and purpose.” e records department was another area where the consulting rm made multiple recommendations. e rm outlined the need for another full-time employee to be hired in the records department. e report explained there is currently only one employee in this position, with no one able to ll in as back up. ere is currently no succession plan should the current Records Manager leave. e current manager told consultants there is a need for another person to work in records to provide help with internal and external services. e manager has seen an increase in records requests in recent years and is concerned about how the department will keep up with requests, given the body-worn camera laws requiring the prompt release of footage.

Another recommendation made by the rm was for the improvements of current retirement plans.

During the survey, all CCSO employees interviewed by the rm stated “the current retirement program is inadequate and provides no hope for them to retire,” according to the report.

Stein explained that expanding the retirement program is not viable at this time due to scal constraints, but his PowerPoint presentation did acknowledge the lack of bene ts.

“ e current perception is that Clear Creek County o ers one of the lowest retirement plan options in the state,” the PowerPoint stated.

“ ere is concern anytime a single person holds all the institutional knowledge for an important function in the organization,” the report stated.

Stein explained the department e report also recommended the digitization of historical documents and records. e consultant’s report also noted an “urgent need” for more sta ng at the jail. e report estimated the need to be four more deputies. e recommendation suggested hiring “Detention Deputies” that are sworn o cers without POST certication, as a matter of cost savings. is is currently not scally viable for the Sheri ’s Department, according to Stein. e department has been able to complete multiple recommendations provided by the consulting rm, however. e rm recommended that the department improve internal communications. e report found “very poor communication throughout the organization” after talking to sta members at all levels. e department has completed various sta ng rearrangements within the department as recommended by the rm, and has completed a jail evacuation plan.

“At this point, everyone is very busy with their current assigned duties,” he said.

“Many” records have already been digitized, according to Stein, but due to budget constraints, no more will be digitized at this time.

It costs the county $1,200 a month to keep the records with the digitizing contractor, so CCSO is evaluating the possibility of in-house e orts to digitize and store the records, explained Stein at the commissioner’s meeting.

It is unclear exactly how many records are left to be digitized.

CCSO has improved both internal and external messaging, with a push for social media posts on the external side. As for within the department, CCSO has increased internal sta emails sharing news, set up anonymous suggestion boxes and plans to install a dry-erase board for discussion of division goals and research projects, according to Stein’s presentation.

To view the entire consultant’s report and CCSO’s Powerpoint responding to recommendations, check out Jan. 24th’s Board of County Commissioners agenda found on the Clear Creek County website.

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When learning about how Native Americans lived, it’s better when that learning is hands-on.

at’s why the kindergartners at Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen spent time in the school’s STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art and math — lab to create tepees out of construction paper and sticks.