Whatcom County Public Works Podcast

For Flood Preparedness Week, we sat down with Whatcom County Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management Deputy Director Matt Klein for a special episode of the Public Works Podcast.

Hear why personal preparedness matters during a community-wide emergency, how to get your household 2 Weeks Ready, why you should never drive around a road-closed sign, and more.

The more people who are prepared before an emergency, the more first responders can focus their resources where they’re needed most.

Episode transcript available here.

Soon-to-be retired Senior Traffic Tech Dave Hower joins Roland and Mandy to talk about the importance of frost depth monitoring on County roadways. 

In this Season 4 kickoff episode, Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa looks ahead to 2026—sharing thoughts on the department’s priorities, the challenges we’re navigating, and the opportunities ahead for Public Works. It’s a chance to hear directly from leadership about where we’re headed and what to expect in the coming year.

Natural Resources Division Senior Planner Chris Elder joins Roland and Mandy to discuss the recent Future Shorelines Project. More information is available on the project website. 

Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa joins hosts Roland and Mandy to talk about supplemental budget impacts on the department. Michael & Gina, Assistant Superintendents of Maintenance & Operations, further explain the effects on road maintenance. 

Each year when the rain returns, it carries more than water into our creeks and bays. This new episode of the Whatcom County Public Works Podcast dives into the “fall flush” — what it is, why it matters, and how small actions at home can make a big difference for local water quality.

Hear the surprising connections between what happens in your yard and the seafood we enjoy in local waters. You’ll also learn more about rebates, free farm planning help, and other programs available for residents and rural landowners.

This episode of the Whatcom County Public Works Podcast features staff from our Stormwater and our Pollution, Identification, and Correction Program (PIC) to discuss how pet waste affects water quality. Listen to learn more about our Scoop It, Bag It, Trash It campaign and the summer outreach we're doing to update pet owners. 

Season 3 of the Public Works Podcast continues with more info on the department's financial health. Hosts Roland and Mandy are joined by Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa, River & Flood Manager Julie Anderson, and Natural Resources Manager Gary Stoyka to discuss the status of the Road Fund and the Flood Fund.

Listen to learn more about where the money comes from, how cash flow affects the work we do, and the solutions we're proposing to help restore healthy fund balances.

Roland and Mandy are joined by County Engineer Doug Ranney to discuss summer construction projects. Listen to learn more about how cash flow is affecting projects, as well as which ones are moving forward this summer. (Read Episode 6 transcript)

Public Works Maintenance & Operations Assistant Superintendents Gina Miller and Michael Koenen join the podcast to discuss road maintenance work drivers experience each summer. We'll also touch on National Public Works Week and a cool partnership that they've developed with Ferndale High School. (Read the episode transcript)