Bellingham City Council awarded a $12.7 million contract to Colacurcio Brothers, Inc to construct a new dispatch center Feb. 9, 2026. Construction is expected to finish late 2027.
Forrest Longman, deputy administrator for the city, said in an email he anticipated a bond issuance of around $18 million. Of the expected $18 million, $3.2 million will refund previous bonds. The remaining $14.8 million will pay for building and furnishing the facility.
Construction for the dispatch facility was originally estimated to cost $12 million. Longman said the previous estimate was not viable.
“It would have resulted in a sub-standard building that did not meet the project goals of providing a safe and secure facility,” Longman said.
The City of Bellingham website said the project began in 2023, with construction starting March 2026. The new facility will be built across the current site, at Alabama and Iron Street. The old building will be demolished upon completion.
Katherin Mitchell was a What-Comm 911 dispatcher since 2015 before becoming an operations supervisor. She looks forward to having a facility that accommodates their growing needs.
“(Our current building is) adequate, but definitely not ideal,” Mitchell said. “We have lots of staff in small spaces for extended periods of time. We don't have as much support as I would like for people doing this vital work.”
Justin Rasmussen, deputy director of operations for What-Comm 911 Dispatch, said discussion surrounding repairing the building occurred before 2010.
“After studying this issue with professional architects, this is by far the cheaper route than bringing this old facility up to modern standards and adding to it,” Rasmussen said. “My night shift one day will leave this building, and the day shift will report to the new building. The transition will just be seamless.”
What-Comm 911 Dispatch provides emergency dispatch services to 10 local law enforcement agencies across the county. The current facility was built in 1954 as a fire station and was turned into a dispatch center in the late 1980s.
David Makin, professor of criminal justice and criminology at Washington State University and principal investigator of the Washington State Data Exchange for Public Safety (WADEPS), said a more efficient dispatching facility could improve community relations under certain conditions.
“These new emergency response systems have the ability to not just collect more data, (they should be able to) operationalize and use that data to make better decisions,” Makin said. “That's what the community should expect. Their calls come in, they feel heard, and you're seeing improved responsiveness. All of that is dependent on effective training, system integration and community trust.”
Michelle Polo, a Western Washington University linguistics major, has called 911 various times to report a potential kidnapper and drunk driving in the area. She said having quicker responses could improve public safety.
“There were a few times when I called 911, I was on hold for a long time,” Polo said. “In most of my circumstances, I haven't felt directly threatened at that moment, but they didn't even ask me if I felt threatened before putting me on hold. So I imagine if someone was in a situation where I needed to be on the phone and get help quickly, a new dispatch facility would help with that.”
The City of Bellingham website said the new center will provide disaster resilience. Rasmussen said this included better earthquake survivability and new equipment, such as a radio tower and an upgraded power generator.
The new facility will also include eight new desks. The current building can handle a maximum of eight dispatchers on shift, with a typical shift consisting of five people.
Another addition to the new center is the wellness space, consisting of a larger breakroom and two quiet rooms. Mitchell looked forward to having a larger rest area for fellow dispatchers.
“Instead of having a space that functions as the kitchen, break room and exercise space, we have unique spaces for all those activities to support dispatcher wellness, especially since we frequently work 12-hour shifts,” Mitchell said.
Dispatchers often face mental and physical health issues due to the emotionally draining calls and the sedentary nature of the occupation. According to a 2023 study conducted by the National Emergency Number Association and Carbyne, 74% of respondents said burnout was a significant issue in dispatch centers. Rasmussen hopes the new additions will improve retention and employee welfare.
“The work that our dispatchers do is so stimulating,” Rasmussen said. “Calls range from people wanting to know when their police department is open to the most horrific of situations and they do it all day. There is a definite fiscal value in keeping them for longevity. These are worthy investments that we feel like we're making in our staff.”
Allison Lam (she/her) is a city news reporter for The Front. She is a junior public relations pre-major with a communication studies minor. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and watching sitcoms. She can be reached at allisonlam.thefront@gmail.com.
