Pierce County

🌟 Happy New Year! 🌟 Welcome to 2025! Just a reminder, Pierce County administrative offices are closed today. Emergency services will continue with normal operations. We will resume regular business hours on Jan. 2.

💙👷🚧 Pierce County Planning and Public Works (PPW) experienced a busy year in 2024! Take a look at just a few of our key achievements from our dedicated team. Thank you to all our PPW employees for working hard to make Pierce County a place people are proud to call home. Watch more videos about our work in the community by visiting: https://lnkd.in/g34mJnGE

⌚ Don't miss out! Apply today for one of these positions or find more opportunities at PierceCountyWa.gov/Jobs Agriculture and Conservation Planner (Planner 3) $44.37 - $56.82 Hourly https://bit.ly/3ZEGr4i Accounting Assistant 3 - Business and Financial Management $31.40 - $39.26 Hourly https://bit.ly/49RdhUd Engineering Manager - Technical Review $124,558.34 - $158,895.30 Annually https://bit.ly/3PhkF1q

After an incredible 27 years of dedicated service to Pierce County, Judge Bryan Chushcoff will retire from the Pierce County Superior Court on Jan. 10, 2025. A Tacoma native and graduate of Silas High School, Judge Chushcoff’s deep roots in the community have shaped his approach to justice. After earning his degree in business admin from the University of Washington and his law degree from Seattle University, he began his legal career as a solo practitioner. His diverse practice in family law, contracts, personal injury, real estate, and high-profile criminal defense cases provided him with the broad expertise that would serve him well on the bench. Elected to Superior Court in 1996, Judge Chushcoff became known not only for his wisdom and leadership but also for his dedication to improving the court’s performance. He served multiple terms on the court’s Executive Committee, including four years as Presiding Judge. Judge Chushcoff also made significant contributions to the legal community through his service on the state Board of Judicial Administration’s Budget Committee and as Treasurer of the Superior Court Judges’ Association. Judge Chushcoff reflects on his career with pride, saying, “Being an attorney or a judge is a position of service and trust. Done right, laws and lawyers are a powerful force for social justice and morality; a force that resolves conflict and can unite people.” More information: https://lnkd.in/gnJ4SWt8.

Pierce County Human Services is seeking a consultant to evaluate the Coordinated Entry system, which helps households access safe housing. The consultant will assess the prioritization tool used to determine eligibility for housing referrals, focusing on its effectiveness and equity. The evaluation will identify any disparities in service, recommend strategies to address them, and guide necessary changes to better meet individual needs. 📆 Applications are due by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. Visit https://bit.ly/4gIIlrv to learn more.

After 14 years of serving as a Pierce County Superior Court Judge in Department 9, Judge Edmund Murphy is retiring. His last day will be Dec. 31, 2024. Judge Murphy’s journey in law began with a love for the courtroom during a summer internship at the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office in 1983. That spark turned into a 41+ year career in the County-City Building, where he served first as a prosecutor and later as a respected judge. During his 27 years in the Prosecutor's Office, he tried nearly every type of criminal case, supervising key divisions, and championing therapeutic courts. He helped establish Pierce County’s Drug Court in 1994, becoming its first prosecutor, and co-created the Felony Mental Health Court in 2015. His commitment to these programs reflected his belief in their power to transform lives. In 2010, Judge Murphy was appointed to the Pierce County Superior Court by Gov. Christine Gregoire. He served on multiple executive committees, contributed as a trustee for the Superior Court Judges’ Association and remains a steadfast advocate for justice. As he steps into retirement, Judge Murphy looks forward to spending more time with his wife and family, exploring volunteer opportunities, and reflecting on a career filled with purpose and impact. More information: https://lnkd.in/g2MvhwhH.

Have a conservation project in mind? Pierce County’s 2025 Conservation Futures Grant is now accepting applications! Get support to preserve open spaces, shorelines, wildlife habitats and more. This is opportunity ideal for agencies like cities, towns, municipal park districts, nonprofit nature conservancies, or historic conservancies. We have all the resources you need to make a standout application. Learn more and apply by Feb. 21: https://lnkd.in/g8fnSzMP.

After more than a decade of service to Pierce County, Judge Gretchen Leanderson is retiring from Pierce County Superior Court. Her last day will be Dec. 31, 2024. Judge Leanderson graduated from the University of Washington in 1981 with a bachelors degree in business, then, in 1984 she chose law school over an MBA. She attended the University of Puget Sound School of Law in Tacoma, graduating in 1987. Over the years, she built an esteemed legal career, serving as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, an attorney with the Attorney General’s Office, and ultimately a respected judge. Appointed to Pierce County Superior Court in 2014 by Gov. Inslee, Judge Leanderson has made a lasting impact. She served on several leadership committees, mentored countless law students, and is a passionate advocate for therapeutic courts and juvenile justice. In retirement, Judge Leanderson looks forward to staying active in the community, traveling, spending time with loved ones, and enjoying tennis, biking, and rowing. More information: https://lnkd.in/gvaUhQux.

Pierce County Human Services is seeking proposals from consultants to support the development of a Youth Homelessness Coordinated Community Plan. Up to $150,000 is available to plan support services for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness, with the goal of demonstrating how a coordinated community approach can reduce homelessness for youth aged 24 and younger. This planning process will lay the foundation for future implementation and provide a framework for various projects Pierce County will request funding for within the community. 📆 Applications are due by 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26. Visit https://bit.ly/3DkAS3j to learn more!

In this episode of Aging Wisely, we take a look at the KWA (Korean Women's Association) meal site for seniors. Since 1988, KWA has been dedicated to providing congregate nutrition services for seniors in Pierce County. These meal sites serve not only nutritionally balanced hot meals, but also offer a vibrant atmosphere for socialization, engaging educational programs, and invigorating health activities, fostering a sense of community and connection among older adults. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gbVz6VgU