Public Periscope

To err isn’t always human

Environmentalists seemed grossly outnumbered by developers and private property rights activists at last week’s meeting of the Spokane County Commission to discuss the protection of fragile areas. Maybe the result of a faulty computer message … An e-mail message to the environmentalists on the City Hall network advertised “Tonight: showdown with the developers.” Problem was, the message was six days before the commission meeting.

Don’t hold your breath

The city of Spokane’s Weights and Measures Department was deluged with phone calls after a story ran in last week’s Spokesman-Review about its declining budget. One resident suggested what he called a painless way to round up the $10,000 the department needs for new scales … Just ask each of the city’s top-scale managers to donate $1,000 of their annual salaries, he said.

Words to live by

Quotable: “They’ve been going to meetings for two years. They’re going to make great government employees someday.” - Mike Aho of the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department, on teenagers helping plan a teen center at the old Libby Middle School. Aho was speaking to the Spokane School Board.

Oh, that explains lots of things

In a meeting this week with the city’s Public Works Committee, Spokane County Assessor Charlene Cooney lamented her department’s ailing bank account. Cooney blames a lack of cash for nearly all the problems besieging her troubled department … “The assessor’s office is the baby nobody wants,” groused Cooney.

If you think you look good in uniform

Young men and women who are entering their senior year in high school and would like an appointment to one of the nation’s service academies can start the process by contacting their congressman. In Eastern Washington, that means contacting Rep. George Nethercutt at 1527 Longworth Building, Washington D.C. 20515 … Send a letter about why you want to attend, along with such things as your school records, junior class rank, SAT scores, leadership potential, extracurricular activities, athletics, physical fitness and recommendations.

Getting involved

Gov. Mike Lowry recently named the board members for the Spokane Joint Center for Higher Education … They are Kristiane Blake, an accountant and financial adviser; Dave Clack, a local business leader; Maurice McGrath, an executive for Hewlett-Packard; and Carol Wendle, a former school board member and executive for an auto sales company.

Because you asked

Question: When Commissioner Steve Hasson is out waving a campaign sign on the roadside, is he violating any county rules that restrict employees from engaging in non-county business during work hours?

Answer: No. As an elected official, Hasson has no policy that requires him to work a certain number of hours or a certain shift. That’s why it was legal for former Commissioner George Marlton to absent himself from duties after losing last year’s primary.

, DataTimes MEMO: Public Periscope, published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. If you have a question about local government, growth or development, we’d like to help you find an answer. You can write us at The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane, Wash., 99210, or e-mail to jimc@spokesman.com. Fax us at 509-459-5482, or call Cityline at 458-8800, then press 9120 to leave a message.

This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS Friday: Five area school superintendents tell a Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast about the future in the wake of their successful bond and levy campaigns. 7:30 a.m. at the Shilo Inn. $7 in advance, $10 at the door, call 459-4111 for reservations.