Public Periscope

The bilingual commissioners

Spokane County Commissioner George Marlton is usually a soft-spoken guy, seldom heard to utter a blue word. So it was somewhat surprising on Friday when Marlton - dropping in on a courthouse meeting between Hasson, two county employees and a stranger - used language that made Nixon’s Watergate tapes sound prudish … In less than five minutes, he uttered scatological and sexual profanities, and made a reference to oral sex … A grinning Hasson, a Republican, made no attempt to stop his Democratic colleague, who didn’t realize the stranger at the table was a reporter … Marlton asked, after introductions, that the comments be kept off the record … Nope.

Is a cyber seminar a cyber-nar?

Need a driving lesson before you get on the information superhighway? A local not-for-profit group, the Citizen Connection, is offering one next month … The group will hold a two-hour seminar at Gonzaga University’s Foley Center. Computer experts will show cyber novices how to get on the Internet, find information about local government and political issues, and even get free software to explore the World Wide Web. … The $20 admission fee - lowered to $5 if you’re a student - will be used to create and maintain a home page on the Web. And if you don’t know what that means, you may really need the seminar. It starts at 7 p.m. Oct. 5.

Leaf well enough alone

When Spokane city staffers asked when the council wanted a “big picture” talk about this fall’s leaf pickup program, Councilman Mike Brewer had a suggestion: “I say we vote tonight to throw it out.” That caused Mayor Jack Geraghty to reply, “I bet you probably don’t have a leaf in your yard.”…”I compost them all,” Brewer replied. “So do we,” said Geraghty, which prompted a bit of nervous laughter from his colleagues, no doubt cognizant of the problems where the city’s composting takes place.

Getting involved

Know something about plumbing or the building trades, and live in the city? You may be perfect for an opening on the Construction Review Board. Apply by Sept. 22 at the Spokane mayor’s office, 5th Floor, City Hall.

Because you asked

How can I send e-mail to my congresspersons?

All three members of Congress who represent Eastern Washington now have Internet addresses. Send e-mail to Rep. George Nethercutt at grnwa05@hr.house.gov; for Sen. Slade Gorton, use SenatorGorton@gorton.senate.gov; for Sen. Patty Murray, use senatormurray@senate.gov.

, DataTimes MEMO: Public Periscope, published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. If you have a question about government, growth or development, we’d like to help find an answer. Write us c/o The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane 99210. Or call Cityline at 458-8800 on a Touchtone phone, then press 9120 to leave a message. Or send e-mail to jimc@spokesman.com for on-line readers. < This sidebar appeared with the story: Hot Topics Thursday: Help the city figure out how it should spend your money at a Community Partners Town Hall meeting on budget priorities. 7:30 p.m., Salk Middle School, 6411 N. Alberta. Saturday: State legislators give you a chance to tell them what you think about property taxes. Try to keep it clean. 7 p.m., Lounge AB, Student Union Building, Spokane Falls Community College.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports