Public Periscope

See ya in the funnies

Think you’ve got problems with bureaucrats? Consider poor Blondie, the ageless cartoon character who needs licenses, permits and inspections to remodel the building for her expanded catering business … One uncaring government worker tells her that seven agencies must approve the work. Another says it would be easier if she were a foreigner. Blondie’s so upset that today she burned Dagwood’s pot roast … Public Periscope wasn’t sure where the Bumsteads live, but we called Bob Eugene, head of Spokane city building inspections, and got this advice: Blondie can save time and money by hiring an architect. Approval of completed plans by the city and the Spokane County Health District should take about seven days. Final inspections could be done the same day carpenters finish their work, and Ms. Bumstead could move in the next day, Eugene said. … That’s assuming the former flapper got a business license before setting up shop in her home four years ago. Things could get ugly if she’s been operating illegally … “We have to assume the best, don’t we?” said Eugene.

Filling the hole

State Rep. Todd Mielke’s seat is still slightly warm from his hasty departure, but the potential replacements are lining up. Republican precinct leaders from the 6th Legislative District gather on Nov. 13 to come up with a “short list” to submit to the county commissioners … Smart money says one of the three names on the list will be Duane Sommers, the current county chairman and a former legislator, who is interested in having his old job back. Sommers left the Legislature in 1992 when the district lines were redrawn, leaving three GOP incumbents for two seats. Rather than challenge a colleague, he ran for Congress, but lost in the primary … Also interested in the job are former City Council candidate Ken Withey; Bradley Benson, a local banker, Mike Ornburn, former chairman of the Young Republicans and Jim Roeber, a former county commission candidate.

New cure for old panes

With all this carping about the spendthrift ways of the Spokane Transit Authority, we are happy to report two STA employees were honored recently for saving taxpayers big dough … Mikel Kneff and Dean Lock used the spray-on clear coat found in most hardware stores to take the scratches out of Plexiglas windows in 14 buses, which had panes so scratchy riders sometimes missed their stops … The idea saved STA about $75,000 over the cost of replacing windows.

Drink up

The City’s Water and Hydro Services Department wants Spokane residents to know they’re getting a bargain on their water. That’s based on a survey by the City Engineers Association of Washington … .The group checked the cost of 7,500 gallons per month from cities around the state. In Spokane, that’s $8.58, exclusive of utility taxes that the survey didn’t count. The state average was $18.06.

Getting involved

Spokane County has an opening on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Call Solid Waste Director Phil Williams at 456-7403 before Nov. 22 for more information … The city of Spokane has five openings on its Arts Commission. Stop by the Mayor’s Office, 5th Floor, City Hall, for an application before Nov. 17.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS Wednesday: The City Plan Commission holds a hearing on a proposal to designate Waterworks Street and Rutter Avenue as arterials, then holds workshops on the Manito-Cannon Hill Redevelopment Overlay Zone, a proposed grocery store at Third and Freya and the Indian Trails Neighborhood Plan. Starting at 1:30, 2nd Floor, Spokane City Hall.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Jim Camden, staff writer