Whatcom County will hold its second annual Open House on Tuesday, September 30, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Whatcom County Courthouse in downtown Bellingham. The free public event gives residents a chance to speak directly with elected officials and county staff about government operations, upcoming projects, and the county budget.
County Executive Satpal Sidhu framed the event as a core commitment to accessible government. "We are committed to making the work we do on your behalf as accessible as possible," Sidhu said in the announcement. "I invite you to come to the courthouse and connect neighbor-to-neighbor with your local government."
What Residents Can Expect
The Open House is structured as a walk-around event where staff from departments and elected offices across the county will be stationed throughout the courthouse, ready to answer questions and present information about their work. County Council Chair Kaylee Galloway described the evening as a chance for real dialogue rather than one-way communication. "Transparency means more than just making information available. It means having real conversations with the community we serve," Galloway said.
Attendees will be able to learn about the county's new jail and behavioral care facility, a project that has been years in the making and represents one of the largest capital investments in Whatcom County's recent history. The county selected a site on Hannegan Road in Bellingham for the new facility and has been moving through design and planning phases. The Open House will offer a chance to ask questions about the project's timeline and design directly to the staff involved.
Visitors will also have a chance to engage with the upcoming county budget process. Whatcom County's budget discussions each fall shape funding levels for public safety, road maintenance, parks, health services, and dozens of other programs that affect daily life across the county. The Open House gives residents an early opportunity to raise priorities before formal budget hearings begin.
Other topics on offer include how the county court system supports justice, and a trivia contest testing knowledge of Whatcom County history and government. Elected officials will be circulating throughout the evening and available to hear concerns directly from constituents.
Background on County Government and Civic Engagement
The Whatcom County Courthouse sits at 311 Grand Avenue in downtown Bellingham and houses the offices of the County Executive, County Council, Superior Court, and many administrative departments. The building is open to the public during regular business hours, but events like the Open House offer an unusual evening access point for residents who work during the day.
Last year's inaugural Open House attracted residents curious about county operations at a time of significant activity, including ongoing discussions about the justice system, encampment policy, and budget pressures. This year's edition comes as the county continues to navigate those same issues alongside new ones, including potential impacts from federal Medicaid changes on county health services and a drought declaration that has affected local businesses and farms.
The Whatcom County government serves roughly 240,000 residents across an area stretching from Bellingham's waterfront to the North Cascades. Its departments include public works, planning, health, the sheriff's office, parks, and elections administration, among others. The Open House is designed to make all of those functions visible and approachable in a single evening.
How to Attend and Get Accommodations
The event is free and open to all. No registration is required. The courthouse is located at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225, and is accessible via Whatcom Transportation Authority bus routes serving downtown Bellingham. Parking is available in the surrounding area.
For ADA accommodations or additional questions, residents can contact Riley Sweeney at rsweeney@co.whatcom.wa.us or 360-778-5213. Requests for accommodations should be submitted in advance of the September 30 event date. For more on what county offices do and who to contact, the county's main information line is 360-778-5000. Details on other upcoming county announcements, including the Assessor's Office lobby closure, can be found in recent county news coverage here.
