In 2013 Whatcom County acquired the services of DLR Group to review, access condition and methodology of planning for the new jail facility. The contractor completed the site review of the property intended for purchase by Whatcom County for the purposes of construction a new jail facility. The contractor completed a conceptual design, building programming, Supplemental Environmental impact Statement (SEIS) scoping, and final SEIS on the project. Upon completion of the SEIS, Whatcom County purchased the property located on LaBounty and Sunset Roads in Ferndale. Whatcom County obtained the Conditional Use Permit from the City of Ferndale in March of 2015. In 2020 the County hired HOK Consulting Group to review Jail operations, services and sizing needs.
2nd Quarter 2015 Update
The current status of the project is pending the results of the proposed Sales and Use Tax increase via the ballot measure scheduled for November 2015 to secure the funding required for construction of a new facility.
3rd Quarter 2015 Update
The current status of the project is pending the results of the proposed Sales and Use Tax increase via the ballot measure scheduled for November 2015 to secure the funding required for construction of a new facility.
4th Quarter 2015 Update
The ballot measure did not achieve the votes needed to construct the new jail. This ballot measure will be revisited over the next couple of years.
1st Quarter 2016 Update The ballot measure will be revisited over the next couple of years.