Public Periscope

He’d still have to run for office

Spokane Mayor Jack Geraghty says he’s surprised at the number of people who think he automatically would become the city’s “strong mayor” if the initiative to change the city charter passes. “This is one of the most significant actions this community can take,” Geraghty said, adding that few people understand the proposal to toss out the city manager in favor of a mayor who would be the city’s administrative head. … So, FYI: If the measure passes, elections would be held to fill the more powerful position.

A musical freebie

Here’s a chance to see and hear a musical group who has played for presidents and foreign dignitaries - and attend free of charge. Tops in Blue, a band featuring the best of Air Force musicians, will appear Friday in the Opera House, and the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce is picking up the tab. … Tickets are available at the chamber’s office, 1020 W. Riverside, during normal business hours.

Fit to be tied

County Commissioner Phil Harris was in fighting form last week after fellow commissioners Steve Hasson and John Roskelley voted to give the prosecuting attorney’s office only $120,000 instead of the requested $160,000. Harris said the yellow stripe on Hasson’s impressionistic necktie “matches the one down my colleagues’ backs” and then asked: “Where’d you get that thing, anyway?” … Hasson replied it was a gift from Fran Boxer, the county’s administrative assistant. Replied Harris: “Yeah, I’d buy that for my worst enemy, too.”

The saga continues …

Missing-in-action Spokane city Councilman Chris Anderson took his “‘inquiring’ friends in the media” to task for not exposing the locations of vacationing council members. So few council members were in town last Monday that Mayor Jack Geraghty canceled the meeting. “Can our community expect now to be subjected to a multiplicity of obnoxious and intrusive stories as to each council member’s whereabouts, goings-on, etc.?” asked Anderson in widely circulated e-mail. “I know the answer, but my question is, ‘Why not?’ What a crock!” … Anderson, who has been working as a driver on the “Dante’s Peak” movie set in Wallace, has been absent from council meetings since June 3. We haven’t able to track down the whereabouts of all six of his colleagues yet. But we’re glad he still considers us friends.

Environmental kudos

This newspaper never has been shy about pointing out when the local Kaiser Aluminum plants have been rapped on the knuckles for pollution problems. So it seems only fair to note that the Trentwood rolling mill recently received an award for Outstanding Achievement in Pollution Prevention from Washington Gov. Mike Lowry. … Johnson Matthey, a local electronics and semiconductor maker, also received an award for continued excellence in pollution prevention.

Mapping things out

If you need maps from the U.S. Geological Survey and from the U.S. Forest Service, you can get them in one stop now. The two federal agencies have combined their information centers into the same location - Room 135 of the downtown Spokane post office, 904 W. Riverside. … The melding is part of a nationwide trend. The same office also offers aerial photographs and digital maps of the Pacific Northwest as well as firewood and Christmas tree permits, which are required if you’re planning to go tree hunting in federal forests.

, DataTimes MEMO: “Public Periscope,” published Mondays, 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. Or send a fax to (509) 459-5482. Or call Cityline at 458-8800 on a Touch-Tone phone, then press 9120 to leave a message.

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