Public Periscope

Not eating hearty from the public trough

Some people at Thursday’s hearing on proposed land-use changes accused the Spokane County Planning Commission of getting fat off public money. That could be true, but only on a very fine point … Planning commissioners don’t get paid. But they do get a lunch - which can be worth a princely $8 - for presiding over an all-day meeting. They also get reimbursed for any miles they put on their cars. Not much of a sinecure, is it? … Here’s another thing that many people may not realize about the commission: It’s an advisory board. So whatever recommendation it makes on such hot topics as the size of lots in farm areas, that’s not the final word. Debate will continue when the proposal goes to county commissioners, most likely next year … If the commission doesn’t decide until 1997, it could be the first major decision that demonstrates the difference between incoming Commissioner Kate McCaslin and outgoing Commissioner Steve Hasson.

Check the letters, commissioner. It’s KGA

Tight-lipped Commissioner John Roskelley rarely talks off the cuff, and perhaps that’s just as well. When county board members were discussing an upcoming meeting on the Growth Management Act, Commissioner Phil Harris said organizers had better reserve a bigger room. Radio talk jock Richard Clear, Harris said, was urging his listeners to attend … “So,” asked Roskelley, “is the Ku Klux Klan going to show up?”

Rumor of the week

Don’t be surprised if supporters of incorporation make another run at city-fying the Valley right after the first of the year. Word has it supporters recently asked what date is set aside for elections in February … That would be Feb. 4, in case anyone else is wondering.

An issue with teeth in it

Sitting in a dentist’s chair last week, City Councilwoman Phyllis Holmes was surprised to learn Spokane water is not fluoridated. “I thought everybody had fluoride in their water,” said Holmes at a later council briefing … Au contraire. Fluoridation in Spokane has been about as popular as a root canal. Although Holmes was away from Spokane for part of the fluoridation wars, she apparently forgot about the little dust-up in 1984. The City Council voted to fluoridate the water supply in June; a citizen’s referendum overturned that decision by a healthy margin five months later … Longtime city staffers haven’t forgotten, however. They reacted to Holmes’ comment with a round of laughter and sheepish grins. “That got everybody perked up again,” said Acting City Manager Bill Pupo.

Something completely different

After being somewhat critical of peripatetic City Councilman Chris Anderson in recent months, we’re honor-bound to report that others in the community apparently do not share our view. Anderson said during last week’s council meeting he’d recently learned about a “group of 3- to 4-year-olds” who’d formed a fan group in his honor … “If you’re watching tonight - Greg, Joey, Mitchell, Jack - the councilman is here and thinking about you guys. Have a good evening.” We just hope these youngsters have their parents’ permission to be watching the City Cable Channel.

, 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 SpokesmanReview, Box 2160, Spokane, Wash., 99210. Or e-mail to jimc@spokesman.com. Or fax to (509) 459-5482. Or 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 County Planning Commission continues its discussion of an “exclusive agriculture” zone, and will take up the topic of new zones for forests and potential mining lands. Last week’s hearing played to an overflow crowd. 6 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

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