Public Periscope

He’s staying out of it

Spokane Mayor Jack Geraghty says he’ll stay away from any direct city involvement with a proposed casino in Airway Heights due to what he calls a “very close personal friendship” with Kerry Lynch. She’s president of Alliance Pacific Inc., the consulting firm Geraghty once owned that now does public relations for Carnival Hotels and Casinos. … Carnival and the Kalispel Tribe are trying to bring a $17 million gambling venture to the West Plains.

Remember the first rule of holes?

At a City Council retreat last week, Geraghty chastised officials for saying recently that the street department had filled nearly all the city’s potholes. Just the other day, Geraghty said, “I counted literally 45 to 46 potholes near Esmeralda Golf Course.” … Although we’re tempted to remind the mayor that he can’t use “literally” with an imprecise number, we think he’s on the right track.

Keep away

Logan residents upset about the city’s plans to put a central maintenance facility in their neighborhood found an ally last week in Councilwoman Roberta Greene. “I would not want that in my neighborhood,” Greene said sharply. “I would not want it even close by.” … The facility would be used to service hundreds of city vehicles, from garbage trucks to police cars.

Big talker

City Councilman Chris Anderson must be making a good wage driving a truck on the “Dante’s Peak” movie set. … He ran up a $504 cellular telephone bill last month with about 220 of the 380 calls he placed going to his Indian Trail home. … Anderson gets his cellular phone service through the city because of the cheaper government rate, but he pays his own bill.

Listen and learn

The Spokane Public Library’s branches have added several CD-ROM and audiocassette players for patrons to listen to tunes while reading or studying. All the branches except the crowded, soon-to-be-replaced Shadle building have the equipment, purchased through the $29 million construction bond approved by voters in 1990. … Record players and headphones were available in the basement of the main branch downtown until the early 1980s. But a shortage of space led to their being decommissioned. … Users downtown will find the new machines available for rent for two- or three-hour blocs of time. They’re located on the downtown library’s third floor.

Kudos

Carl Hansen of the Spokane Transit Authority is the top van driver in the country. He holds that honor after placing first in the van category at the National Paratransit Van Roadeo in Milwaukee.

Corrections and clarifications

Last week, we incorrectly reported the name of the road where Pat Mummey lived. The late county commissioner lived on Prairie Crest Road. … An item about the legal tribulations of Bill Wills Jr. and Bradley Wills inadvertently may have left the impression that they are relatively young. Their mother Jeannette Wills called to inform us they are 42 and 39, respectively, and no longer of an age where their parents can watch over their every move. It’s a point well-taken.

, DataTimes MEMO: “Public Periscope” is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. If you’ve got a question about local government, growth or development, we’d like to help you find an answer. You can write us c/o The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane 99210. Or send e-mail to jimc@spokesman.com. Send a fax to (509) 459-5482. Call Cityline at 458-8800 on a Touch-Tone phone, then press 9120 to leave a message.

This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS Wednesday: The Spokane Plan Commission is expected to make up its mind on a change in the municipal code allowing manufactured houses on single lots. It will have a hearing first on an improvement plan for the historic Cannon’s Addition neighborhood. 1:30 p.m., Room 200-2B, City Hall.

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