Public Works Podcast

Learn more about Whatcom County Public Works with our new podcast. In each episode, hosts Roland & Mandy will focus on a different area of responsibility for the department—from construction projects to road maintenance & detours, flood mitigation, ferry updates, noxious weeds, and more!

You can access episodes using the player below. Or click on the Whatcom County Podcast logo to be taken to the podcast website. 

Season 2

Season 2, Episode 11:  Division of Emergency Management
Published September 2024

The new deputy director of the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Division of Emergency Management (DEM), Matt Klein, joins the podcast to discuss division responsibilities. Learn more about how our two entities work together, as well as DEM's role in emergent and non-emergent times.  (Read the episode transcript)

Season 2, Episode 10:  Assistant Director Laura Frolich
Published September 2024

Public Works' new assistant director, Laura Frolich, joins Roland & Mandy to discuss her background, her goals for the position, and the department budget.  (Read the episode transcript)

Season 2, Episode 9:  Summer Road Maintenance
Published August 2024

Public Works Maintenance & Operations Assistant Superintendents Gina Miller and Michael Koenen join the podcast to discuss road maintenance work drivers experience each summer.  (Read the episode transcript)

Season 2, Episode 8:  All About Roundabouts!
Published July 2024

Public Works Engineering Manager Josh Cihak joins Roland and Mandy to share more about these often misunderstood traffic features. Did you know there's even a rock song written about them? (Read the episode transcript)

Season 2, Episode 7:  Whatcom County Engineer Doug Ranney
Published June 2024

Whatcom County Engineer Doug Ranney joins podcast hosts Roland and Mandy to talk about the role and work of the Whatcom County Public Works engineering team. (Read the episode transcript)

Season 2, Episode 6:  N. Lake Samish Bridge Replacement Project and Whatcom County Bridge Program
Published May 2024

Hosts Roland & Mandy chat with Bridge & Hydraulic Engineering Manager James Lee about the N. Lake Samish Bridge Project. James also shares more about upcoming bridge projects and the Whatcom County Bridge Program as a whole.  (Read the episode transcript)

Season 2, Episode 5:  Noxious Weeds Program
Published May 2024

Listen as hosts Roland and Mandy are joined by the staff of our Noxious Weed Program to discuss all things weeds. Laurel & Cevan share tips for identification, prevention, remediation, and the tools you can borrow to free your yard from weeds. (Read the episode transcript)

Season 2, Episode 4:  Salmon Recovery & Fish Passage Program
Published April 2024

Podcast hosts Roland and Mandy are joined by Senior Salmon Recovery Planner John Thompson and Engineering Supervisor Ben Floyd to talk about the new fish passage program at Whatcom County Public Works. (Read the episode transcript) 

Season 2, Episode 3:  Natural Resources Programs with Erika Douglas
Published March 2024

Roland and Mandy are joined by Erika Douglas, Environmental Programs Manager of our Natural Resources Division, to discuss water quality. (Read the episode transcript)

Season 2, Episode 2:  Flood construction projects
Published February 2024

Hosts Roland & Mandy interview Whatcom County Public Works River & Flood Engineering Supervisor Christina Schoenfelder about flood construction projects. Christina shares how they are prioritized and gives an overview of recent projects.  (Read the episode transcript)

Season 2, Episode 1:  An Interview with Public Works Director, Elizabeth Kosa
Published January 2024

Roland & Mandy interview Whatcom County Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa. Elizabeth shares her background and how she came to the position in March 2023, and she provides an overview of some of the big projects Whatcom County can expect in 2024. (Read the episode transcript)

Season 1

Season 1, Episode 5:  Winter driving safety
Published December 2023

Join hosts Roland & Mandy for tips on fall & winter driving, including how little water it takes to create a dangerous road situation! (Read the episode transcript)

Season 1, Episode 4:  An interview with Gina Miller, Assistant Superintendent of Maintenance & Operations
Published November 2023

Roland & Mandy interviewed Assistant Superintendent Gina Miller of our Maintenance & Operations division. Gina gives an overview of the work of M&O and some of the barriers they face to getting it done. (Read the episode transcript)

Season 1, Episode 3:  Projects in Birch Bay
Published October 2023

Roland & Mandy discuss projects in and around the Birch Bay community, including Birch Bay Drive, Jackson Road Bridge, California Creek, and Cottonwood Drive. (Read the episode transcript)

Season 1, Episode 2:  Road construction detours in Whatcom County
Published September 2023

In this episode, hosts Roland & Mandy discuss the various road detours experienced around Whatcom County this summer and preview what to expect over the next few years. (Read the episode transcript)

Season 1, Episode 1:  Welcome to our new podcast! 
Published August 2023

Welcome to the first episode of the Whatcom County Public Works Podcast. Join your hosts, Roland & Mandy, for a preview of what we hope to accomplish with this new (to us) communication tool. (Read the episode transcript)