Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Public Periscope

Compiled By Jim Camden From Staf

Home in time for supper

If you’ve been missing Tuesday dinner to catch the county commissioner’s show - er, meeting - here’s some news to settle your tummy. Starting next month, commissioners will hold evening meetings only on the first and third Tuesdays of each month … Commissioner Phil Harris said the meetings rarely last more than an hour, so they usually don’t need to be weekly. Going on alternate weeks will cut payroll costs and transmission fees from CityCable 5 … A few years back, meetings were often two- to four-hour sessions. When the county hearing examiner started making some land-use decisions and routine business was handled in afternoon sessions, the marathons lightened up … One other factor in shortening the sessions: The current commissioners spend less time bickering than some previous boards. Harmony sometimes breeds efficiency.

Checking the fax

The Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma are steamed at Washington’s senior senator over his proposal to change the sovereign immunity the tribes currently have. But we’re still pretty sure they made a little typo, saying they “are in opposition to the proposed legislation submitted by Senator Slade Gorgon” … Only a slight chance that the tribes know the senator’s name is really Gorton. And if they do, they probably wouldn’t intentionally change his name to reflect a 60s-era monster movie that features a snake-headed monster, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing … Besides, the Gorgon was part of Greek mythology, not Plains Indian lore.

Game’s over, kids

County commissioners have decided to put an end to ID card swapping, which Commissioner Kate McCaslin called “a childish little game” played by a handful of county workers … As a result, Public Periscope noted, some employees found it challenging to get through the security system with cards that didn’t look a thing like them. Anyone caught playing that game will lose his or her badge … Then the offender will have to go through those annoying airport-style metal detectors, just like the rest of us peons.

Signs of the times

Wasting money is a problem in government, but sometimes the bureaucrats aren’t to blame. Sometimes, the culprit is out here in the general public … Some members of the public can be thanked for an estimated $50,000 the county will have to spend replacing vandalized road signs. Total bill to replace signs for all reasons this year is about $100,000, said county engineer Bill Johns … Good news is, sign vandalism is on the decline. “Maybe (the price of) shotgun shells has gone up,” Johns speculated.

Guest speaker

Former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young will be in town Tuesday in a slightly more sedate setting than the United Nation’s General Assembly. Young is the featured speaker at the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting with area college students to talk about leadership and what one person can do to make a difference in society.

Getting involved

County commissioners are looking for a person to serve on the 911 Emergency Communication Services Board, and another to serve on the Parks Board. Call 456-2265 for information … The city, meanwhile, is looking for two people to serve on the Housing Advisory and Appeals Board, which hears appeals of rulings by building officials and grants variances to the codes. Information and applications are available at the mayor’s office, 5th Floor, City Hall.

, DataTimes MEMO: Public Periscope, published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. You can contact us by mail at Box 2160, Spokane, Wash., 99210, or by fax at (509) 459-5482, or by e-mail at jimc@spokesman.com.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Hot topics Tuesday: It’s primary election day for residents of most cities, many school districts, and some other districts. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., at your local precinct station. Friday: The Logan Neighborhood has produced a video on the possible impact of the city’s proposed maintenance facility, which will air on the city’s cable channel at 5:30 p.m., Channel 25.

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

Public Periscope, published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. You can contact us by mail at Box 2160, Spokane, Wash., 99210, or by fax at (509) 459-5482, or by e-mail at jimc@spokesman.com.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Hot topics Tuesday: It’s primary election day for residents of most cities, many school districts, and some other districts. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., at your local precinct station. Friday: The Logan Neighborhood has produced a video on the possible impact of the city’s proposed maintenance facility, which will air on the city’s cable channel at 5:30 p.m., Channel 25.

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