Public Periscope
Hot topics
Wednesday: City Plan Commission will hold a hearing on the proposed Regional Pedestrian Bikeways Plan and a workshop on the Grandview annexation west of the city and south of Interstate 90. Hearing is at 1:30 p.m., Room 200, City Hall; workshop is at 2:30 p.m., council chambers.
This topic’s hot enough
A meeting on grass burning is always a hot topic, whatever the weather. Which makes it all the more puzzling why the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority didn’t turn on the air conditioning last week for the workshop at the Public Works Building. … Dick Adams, a South Hill retiree in attendance, estimated some 300 people were jammed into the hearing room. Many of the antiburning forces were people with asthma or other breathing problems. … “People were almost overcome with the heat,” said Adams, who was steamed both literally and figuratively. “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize there’d be a lot of people there with respiratory conditions.” … County chief administrative officer Jim Lindow called Adams and apologized.
Freeholder phone tag
Spokane County freeholders finished their work and disbanded in May, but that may surprise anyone dialing the group’s old phone number. Callers are advised to dial 924-2310, which is the business number for Al Lewis, former freeholder and current leader of the charter campaign. … County commissioners wouldn’t let freeholders forward calls to their courthouse office, Lewis explained. Commissioner Steve Hasson, an avowed charter foe, OK’d sending the calls to Lewis. … There’s no conflict between his roles as campaigner and holder of the freeholder torch, Lewis contends. But freeholders who disagree with the proposed charter wonder if he’ll pass along their names when groups want someone to explain the charter.
Call of the wild
Opponents of the city’s Glenrose Prairie annexation had some stunning footage of an elk herd as they presented a video argument against sacrificing the land to urban development. Even the developers swooned when the tape was played at a recent City Council hearing. … Just one slight detail: The elk aren’t on the land the city covets. Sources familiar with the video say the herd was on Browne Mountain, about a half-mile from the annexation area. … Of course, it can be argued that half a mile is nothing to an elk and development will affect wildlife miles away. But accuracy counts, especially when annexation foes have squawked about developer Al Payne calling vacant land a park.
Can they hum ‘Workin’ on a Chain Gang’?
When House Speaker Newt Gingrich touted orphanages to get children off welfare, rentals of the Mickey Rooney movie “Boys Town” skyrocketed. But Spokane County commissioners’ talk about starting chain gangs apparently isn’t doing much for the most famous movie on that topic, “Cool Hand Luke.” … A quick survey of video outlets shows the movie, featuring Paul Newman as a prisoner on a Georgia chain gang, isn’t hot. Not rented in the last month, said a Blockbuster Video outlet. Not since May, said a Premier Video shop. Nothing above average - once or twice a week - at Hastings Books, Music & Video, even at the bargain price of 49 cents. Hastings manager Dan Waters sees no repeat of the Gingrich-“Boys Town” phenomenon.
Lengthening the list
Councilman Chris Anderson wants to add child molesters and abusers to City Cable 5’s daily broadcast of those who deal in illegal sex and drugs. Last week, the council told him to proceed with plans to run the name, address, crime and photograph of anyone convicted - or arrested with prior convictions - for any sexual or physical abuse crimes against children. … Other additions to the list, under Anderson’s plan, would be Level 2 and 3 sex offenders who are released after serving their sentences. … The Public Safety Committee is working on the details.
, 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 at The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane 99210. Or call Cityline at 458-8800 on a Touch-Tone phone; then press 9120 to leave a message.