May - Bexar County

BEXAR COUNTY CONNECTION
MAY 2011
Bexar County Connection
News, events, and information for Bexar County employees
Dedication of the Paul Elizondo Tower The grand opening and official dedication of the Paul
Elizondo Tower was held on March 26th after more than 600
County employees made the move to the new building over
the past three months. Commissioners Court voted in January
to name the building after Commissioner Paul Elizondo honoring his many contributions to the County since he first
became a commissioner in the 1980s.
Commissioner Elizondo began vocalizing the need to move
County offices out of leased offices and into a County-owned
office building years ago. Finally, with a study of County offices, processes and functions, the need for a building was
confirmed. He was largely responsible for working with the
County Budget Officer, David Smith to fund the construction
ABOVE: Commissioner Paul Elizondo
See “Grand Opening” continued on page 4
Benefit Spotlight: Employee Health Clinic and Wellness Center Address:
Hours of Operation:
Phone:
459 South Main Street (one block south of the Courthouse)
7:30 - 11:30 am and 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm (closed for lunch)
(210) 335-4 WEL(4935)
The Bexar County Employee Health Clinic and Wellness Center, open to County employees, is experiencing
over 300 visits per month. The clinic benefits employees by lowering their out-of-pocket healthcare costs and
providing easy access to medical care while keeping employees as a primary focus. All County employees are
welcome, with the exception of temporary employees.
A $5 fee will be deducted from your paycheck for each visit. This fee will be waived if you are referred to
another physician. To expedite your visit, employees are encouraged to call 335-4WEL (4935) prior to arrival,
See “Benefits” continued on page 3
What’s Inside This Issue
HealthWorks Employee Spotlight: Misty Torres Retirement Seminars Q & A with the Budget Manager Annual Tower Climb Walk & Roll to Work Rally Employee Training Calendar Techi‐Tips Employee Service Anniversaries Walk a Half Marathon 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 VOLUME FIVE—ISSUE FIVE
County Holiday Memorial Day Holiday Monday, May 30, 2011 Bexar County Connection is produced
monthly by Bexar County Human Resources.
Send us your news and events information
via e-mail at [email protected]
or via fax at (210) 335-2857.
PAGE 1
BEXAR COUNTY CONNECTION
MAY 2011
Deer Oaks Offers Monthly Chats Participate in a live, online chat with a Deer Oaks counselor at www.deeroaks.com. Chats are held from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. and 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month. Upcoming Chat Topics are: May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month To further the mission of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, individuals and organi‐
zations are encouraged to promote physical activity to achieve happier, healthier, more productive lives. Fitness events that have proven successful include: Building Healthy Relationships Wednesday, May 18 Grief & Death Wednesday, June 15 Sleep & You Wednesday, July 20
1. Fitness/Health Fairs 2. Fitness Talks/Lectures/Films/Television 3. Distance/Fun Runs/Fitness Walks 4. Social Events/Festivals 5. Group Sports A Little Exercise Goes a Long Way
People think exercise has to be some formal thing with grunting and sweat‐
ing and too‐tight sweat‐
pants – not true! Focus on activities that work big groups of mus‐
cles or activities that get your heart rate in your target zone. ABOVE: Avid cyclist Seth Mitchell poses by the bike rack outside
the Paul Elizondo Tower
The County supports the physical fitness of its em‐
ployees through various methods. The County pro‐
vides bike racks at various County buildings, em‐
ployee showers in the basement of the Paul Elizondo Tower, and Human Resources organizes a comprehensive Employee Health Fair each year in the Fall. Mini health fairs are also held throughout the year at various locations. Employees can also receive discounted member‐
ships to local fitness clubs. Visit the Wellness page under HR, Benefits on the PRM website for more information at http://intra/PRM/Healthworks.html VOLUME FIVE—ISSUE FIVE
Taking a brisk walk is good exercise. Doing moderate housecleaning is good exercise. Playing outdoors (for little kids and big kids) is good exercise. The American Heart Association www.heart.org has a lot of useful information on exercise that’s good for you and your heart. Be sure to check with your doctor if you have any health concerns, before you get going. Have fun and get fit! PAGE 2
BEXAR COUNTY CONNECTION
MAY 2011
Employee Spotlight: Misty Torres, Medical Investigator Misty Torres is a certified Medical Investigator for the Bexar County Medical
Examiner‘s Office and was recently featured in the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) newsletter.
Misty earned her BS in Biology from Texas A & M, Kingsville and her MS in
Criminal Justice from Texas State University. After graduate school, Misty first
worked as a Field Agent for the Dallas County Medical Examiner. Misty worked
there for two years and then moved to the Bexar County Medical Examiner‘s
Office to be closer to home.
Most death investigators have their preferential scenes. Misty likes scenes that are
different or unusual. She said she prefers scenes where she doesn‘t know a lot
about the deceased, “I always find it amazing that a body can tell us so much
about a person‘s lifestyle.”
ABOVE: Misty Torres,
Medical Investigator
When Misty is not working, she enjoys being active. She loves doing anything physical, whether it‘s working
out at the gym, walking, or riding her bike because it’s a great stress reliever. Misty is married to a San Antonio police officer named Jeff. Misty recently became a commissioned Peace Officer for the State of Texas.
“Benefits” continued from page 1
for appointment availability. Employees can often schedule
same day appointments, depending on the time of day. Employees are required to present their County badge at each visit.
The clinic is a collaboration between Bexar County and University Health System and offers services by certified and licensed
medical staff, with Jim Martin, Physician Assistant, as the primary care provider and Dr. Katherine Trevino-Whiteley, Associate Medical Director, providing oversight. The clinic provides
pre-employment physicals, drug screens, seasonal immunizations, appointments for illness, and consultations on virtually
any medical condition. Employees who sustain an on-the-job
injury can also receive treatment, which may consist of initial
triage and referral. The medical providers have the ability to prescribe medication and electronically forward prescriptions directly to the pharmacy of your choice. Normal
pharmacy co-pays will apply. If lab work is necessary, you will be referred off-site for those tests at an additional charge. Prescription costs, lab charges, or other diagnostic charges are not included in the $5 fee incurred at the clinic.
Employees enrolled in Virgin HealthMiles can visit the GoZone kiosk located in the waiting area. Download
your pedometer, access your personal activity journal, take your bio-measurements or take a Health Snapshot.
While the employee health clinic is a great benefit, it is important to visit your primary care physician once a
year for a full physical exam. Prostate, cervical, and colon cancer screenings are some recommended screenings which cannot be conducted at the employee health clinic.
The Employee Health Clinic is located two blocks south of the Courthouse at 459 South Main Avenue. Call
335-4WEL (335-4935) for an appointment. Limited parking is available. Your personal and medical information is kept confidential and the medical staff follows all HIPAA compliance procedures as required by law.
VOLUME FIVE—ISSUE FIVE
PAGE 3
BEXAR COUNTY CONNECTION
MAY 2011
“Grand Opening” continued from page 1
and was directly involved in the design of the large sculptural fence and other building elements.
The sculptural fence was designed by local artist George Schroeder. A ceramic and recycled glass depiction of
the acequia in the outdoor landscape and a terrazo floor detail in the lobby show the pathway of the original
Acequia Principal that flowed through the property during the Spanish Colonial period. Local artist Eloise
Stoker included tiles with the imprints of native flora and fauna. Above the artistic arches across the south
entrance is a Bexar County seal 10-feet in diameter that was hand carved from Pecos red sandstone by Craftsman Stoneworks based in Florence, Texas.
During the opening ceremony, County Judge
Nelson Wolff, members of Commissioners Court,
District Attorney Susan Reed, and Sheriff Amadeo
Ortiz placed items in a time capsule that is buried at
the south entrance of the building. Among the items
placed, Judge Reed put in a $20 bill, Commissioner
Elizondo and Judge Wolff invited their grandchildren to put in items including an all “A” report
card, and Sheriff Ortiz put in a bullet – hoping they
will no longer be needed in law enforcement when
the capsule is opened in 25 years.
ABOVE: The South entrance of the Paul Elizondo Tower
ABOVE: Commissioners Court at the Grand Opening
ABOVE: Central Catholic High School performs at the Grand Opening
Retirement Seminars Coming in May Want to learn more about the Texas County and District Retirement System
(TCDRS)? Two workshops conducted by Wayne Hoffman of the County Auditor’s Office and a representative from TCDRS are scheduled on Tuesday, May 3
at the Training Center at 232 Iowa St.
Morning Session
Afternoon Session
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Please contact Adam Leos at 335-0728 or e-mail at [email protected] to register for either session.
VOLUME FIVE—ISSUE FIVE
PAGE 4
BEXAR COUNTY CONNECTION
MAY 2011
Q & A with Hank Reyes, Budget Manager Hank Reyes joined Bexar County in March 1998. During his tenure with
the County, he has held positions as a Budget Analyst, Senior Budget Analyst, Budget Coordinator, Budget Administrator, and finally his current
position as Budget Manager to which he was promoted in 2008. As Budget
Manager he is responsible for coordinating the budget process annually
with all offices and departments in the County to effectively balance a $1
billion budget for taxpayers. A graduate of the University of Texas at San
Antonio (UTSA) with a degree in Finance, Reyes was born and raised in
San Antonio, where he continues to live in the inner city enjoying the company of his children, family and friends.
As the Budget Manager, what is your favorite part of what is sure to be a
challenging job?
“This is a job where there is never a dull moment. Every year there are
ABOVE: Hank Reyes, Budget Manager
new challenges to meet whether it’s because of economic pressures locally,
new legislative mandates, new initiatives and ideas, or making the County
as efficient as possible; putting it all together in a nice, tidy, balanced budget makes for very interesting days!
And, of course, there are the people I work with. This is the most professional group of budget analysts,
finance analysts, compensation, and other human resources personnel I have had the pleasure to work with.
We may sometimes get on each other nerves during the long budget months, but we always come together as
a team to give Commissioners Court the best recommendations we can.”
Tell us about a program your department established to improve a process or procedure.
“During the months when budget staff is not working on budget submissions (yes, we work hard year-round),
we put together a work plan that focuses on improving different aspects of County government. We work
with Offices and Departments to help them achieve their goals and determine the best way to get there. We
help departments reorganize to obtain maximum efficiency and we seek solutions to provide resources in this
environment of limited resources.”
What are your goals for the future of the Budget Division?
“I have always felt working with Offices and Departments is a “nose to nose and toes to toes” kind of business.
After all, how do you know what to fund if you don’t know what your customers’ business is like and what
they go through every day? I see budget analysts becoming more and more familiar with operations of all of
the County’s Offices and Departments. We rely heavily on performance measures to paint the picture of the
departments’ operations and we use those performance measures to gauge the departments’ needs. Sometimes, that may not tell the whole story. Many Offices and Departments are great about inviting us in to learn
more about their business. I hope all departments feel free to invite us in to learn everything about what they
do, in order to help them achieve their goals.”
What professional accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
“When I began as a budget analyst, 80 hour work weeks were not uncommon and the annual turnover for a
budget analyst was 50 percent. I am very proud to say those hours have come down dramatically and we have
only had one person leave within our division in the last three years. We have worked hard to streamline the
process by using technology and by promoting a team atmosphere not only within the budget division, but
across PRM and the County.
I am also very proud of the fact I started as a budget analyst and worked my way up to my current position of
Budget Manager. This will be the thirteenth budget for the County I have worked on.”
“Manager” continued on page 6
VOLUME FIVE—ISSUE FIVE
PAGE 5
BEXAR COUNTY CONNECTION
MAY 2011
“Manager” continued from page 5
What is something we don’t know about you (hobbies, interests, activities)?
“I learned how to read by reading comic books. Growing up, when comic books were $0.25 (yes, I know that
dates me since they are now about $3.00) I would stay up past bed time under the blankets with a flashlight
reading the adventures of Batman, Superman, Spiderman, etc. It encouraged me to read every day and I thank
my parents for allowing me the privilege of doing it especially since money was very tight for them. Reading
comic books was a great learning opportunity which I believe helped me get through school and college. You
can still find me on occasion in a comic book store catching up on the adventures of these heroes.”
Is there a message you would like to impart to County employees?
“We are all working toward the common goal of serving the citizens of Bexar County. Working in the budget
department, you get to learn so much about local and state government and you see all the services that are
provided to everyday people. It is easy to take these services for granted until they are no longer available.
However, if we, as public servants realize how valuable each of our jobs are, it’s not so hard to show up for
work every day knowing you are contributing to the well-being of everyone in this great County.”
20th Annual Tower Climb & Run Several members of the County Clerk Civil Department participated in the Annual Tower Climb and Run to
benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on February 26, 2011. The climb was 58 stories (952 steps) and a one
mile run around Hemisfair Park. Marie Poole, Lead Clerk won the 1st place medal in her age division.
ABOVE: At the top of the tower with Mayor Castro.
LEFT to RIGHT: James Garza, Jose Garcia, Marie Poole
and Enrique Caballero
Walk & Roll to Work Rally May is National Bike Month and it is time for the Annual Walk & Roll to Work
Rally. This year’s rally is Friday, May 20th on Main Plaza at 8:00 a.m. People who
work downtown are asked to walk, bike, bus, or carpool to work - if not from
home, then from a designated starting point. There will be refreshments, camaraderie, and fun at Main Plaza for participants that morning before going to work.
If your workplace is not close to downtown, you are invited to conduct your own Walk & Roll to Work Rally.
Encourage your co-workers to bike, walk, carpool, or take the bus on May 20th to improve their quality of life,
save gas money, and reduce air pollution.
Contact Lydia Kelly with the Metropolitan Planning Organization at (210) 230-6911 or [email protected]
for more information.
VOLUME FIVE—ISSUE FIVE
PAGE 6
BEXAR COUNTY CONNECTION
MAY 2011
Employee Training Calendar - May 2011
Date
Course/Class
Scheduled Time
Location
Tuesday, May 3
Retirement Seminar - AM
8:30 a.m. — 12:00 a.m.
Training Center
Tuesday, May 3
Retirement Seminar - PM
1:00 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.
Training Center
Friday, May 6
Sexual Harassment Awareness
1:00 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.
Training Center
Wednesday, May 11
What’s New: Word 2010
9:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.
BCIT Annex
Friday, May 13
Employee Orientation
9:00 a.m. — 4:30 p.m.
Training Center
Wednesday, May 18
Supervisor Toolbox
1:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m.
Training Center
Wednesday, May 18
What’s New: PowerPoint 2010
2:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m.
BCIT Annex
Thursday, May 19
What’s New: Outlook 2010
2:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m.
BCIT Annex
Wednesday, May 25
Customer Service Strategies
1:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m.
Training Center
Thursday, May 26
Memory Power Tools/Goal Setting
9:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.
Training Center
Thursday, May 26
ESS/MSS - Computer Training Lab
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.
Paul Elizondo Tower,
2nd Floor, Room 204
Check the Information Technology Training Calendar on the County Intranet
for more technology training events in May 2011.
Course dates and times are valid as of the date of publication and subject to change. All classes are available for
County employees. Employees should have their supervisor’s permission to enroll and attend a class.
Register for County Human Resources Information System (CHRIS) classes at [email protected] or call 335-2474.
Please contact Adam Leos at [email protected] or 335-0728 to register for other training events.
Techi‐Tips: Technology Made Simple Windows 7 ‐ Select Multiple Files w/ Check Boxes To select multiple files in Windows Explorer, you generally press the Ctrl key & click on every file you want to
select. In Windows 7, there's a way to select multiple files via check boxes:
1.
2.
3.
Open the Windows Explorer screen, click Organize, and select Folder and search options.
Click the View tab.
Under Advanced Settings, select Use check
boxes to select items, and Click OK.
From now on, when you place your mouse over a file
in Windows Explorer, a check box will appear next to
it; click it to select the file.
Looking for more Techi-Tips? Contact the BCIT Help
Desk at 335-0222.
VOLUME FIVE—ISSUE FIVE
PAGE 7
BEXAR COUNTY CONNECTION
SERVICE ANNIVERSARIES
May 2011
FIVE YEARS
Auditor’s Office
Community Superv & Correction
District Attorney
District Attorney
District Attorney
Information Technology
Information Technology
Information Technology
Infrastructure Services
Infrastructure Services
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Pl 1 & 2
Juvenile Detention
Juvenile Probation
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Tax Office
Futrell, Emmett A.
Sarabia, Patricia A.
Henderson, David W.
Nye-Keif, Talia L.
Rodriguez, Daniel J.
Beezley, Marta A.
Hernandez, Jason R.
Mayorga, Marc
Davis, Dorian R.
Ikuma, Naoko
Costello, Susie M.
Renteria, Porfirio A.
Davis, Kevin D.
Guerra, Jorge R.
Jordan, Debra A.
Link, Rose M.
Lopez, Saybra S.
Torres, Janette
Hanson, Lydia C.
TEN YEARS
Commissioners Court
Constable - Precinct 3
District Attorney
District Attorney
District Attorney
District Attorney
District Attorney
District Clerk
Information Technology
Juvenile Detention
Juvenile Detention
Planning & Resource Management
Planning & Resource Management
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Wolff, Nelson W.
Thurman, Linda M.
Blagg, James W.
Duncan, Charles E.
Lopez, Vicky C.
Nerio, Graciela N.
Rodriguez, Rose Mary P.
Mesa, Jesse
Gonzales, Julia P.
Garcia, Rosa E.
Villela, Maria G.
Jauregui, Pearl C.
Perez, Diana V.
Farmer, Jackie D.
Flores, Ernesto N.
Galindo, Melanie I.
Hernandez, Guadalupe
Lee, Steven E.
Nerio, Jose A.
Orozco, Juan
Ramirez, Juan R.
Rodriguez, Michael A.
VOLUME FIVE—ISSUE FIVE
MAY 2011
FIFTEEN YEARS
Community Superv & Correction
Constable - Precinct 1
County Clerk
County Clerk
District Attorney
Elections
Elections
Infrastructure Services
Infrastructure Services
Infrastructure Services
Infrastructure Services
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office
Nolan, Manuela K.
Resendis, Patrick L.
Garcia, Michelle L.
Martinez, Ruby R.
Gregory, Sue Ann
Callanen, Jacquelyn F.
Motley, Edyne M.
Bernal, Raul A.
Garcia, Rene
Rodriguez, Hope Z.
Sloss, Rudy
Casanova, Christina
Ximenez, Monica L.
TWENTY YEARS
Auditor’s Office
Community Superv & Correction
Community Superv & Correction
Economic Development
Infrastructure Services
Planning & Resource Management
Sheriff’s Office
Tax Office
Appleman, Theresa A.
Guerrero, Kathleen M.
Prado, Carlos M.
Diaz, Sylvia L.
Ramirez, Benjamin T.
Martinez, Leticia G.
Wollny, Jason V.
Valdillez, Lynda A.
THIRTY YEARS
Sheriff’s Office
Sanchez, Eugene G.
Walk a Half Marathon Want to train for a ½ marathon? Walkers interested
in training for the San Antonio Rock ’N Roll Marathon on Sunday, November 13, 2011 should start
now.
Training will start Saturday, July 9th and continue
through Friday, November 4th. Last year there was a
team of 17 walkers that joined the fun and fitness.
Marlene Nichols from the County Auditor’s Office
will lead this group. She has completed 13 half marathons over the last five years. Contact Marlene at 3353959 or email [email protected] for more information.
PAGE 8