Public Periscope

Actually, it was both

The quote: “That’s accurate, but not quite correct.” The speaker: Spokane County Commissioner Phil Harris when asked whether the cost of turning Martin Hall into a juvenile detention center has doubled.

Voice of experience

Bob Burke, vice president of the Inland Northwest Zoological Society, testified last week in favor of a Spokane County ordinance on the care and keeping of exotic animals. … “We don’t think it goes far enough” to protect animals and keep them from running free, said Burke. Animal lovers will remember that Burke’s group ran Walk in the Wild zoo before it went out of business. … It was named one of the 10 worst zoos in North America because its charges frequently escaped or were injured.

Next week: how to hot-wire a school bus

Animal control Director Nancy Sattin assured county Commissioner Steve Hasson there’s no need to regulate elephants, rhinos and other really exotic animals because they’re so tough to get. … Actually, there are services that even will locate giraffes for people willing to pay the price, said cougar owner Scott Storch of Nine Mile Falls. “Thanks for telling us - and the many thousands of people (watching the hearing on cable television) - about that,” Hasson replied.

That’ll teach you not to touch that dial

Spokane City Councilwoman Phyllis Holmes recently learned a hard lesson. … “I broke my own rule and listened to talk radio,” she told her colleagues. “Someone was calling us all idiots.” Seems a listener had called the talk show host with a pointed question: Why does the city wash its streets in the winter? Holmes surmised the caller must have observed a truck de-icing city streets - not hosing them down so they’d turn into an ice rink rivaling Riverfront Park’s.

A giving spirit

Robert R. Miller moved away from Spokane, but he left his heart - and a good deal of his money - behind. … The 94-year-old Miller, formerly a Spokane cattle broker, died in St. Louis in 1988. Prior to his death, he set up a trust to benefit various Inland Northwest charities and organizations. … By the time his wife, Adelaide, died earlier this year, the trust had grown to nearly $2 million. … Out of that trust, Riverfront Park will receive about $160,000. … Deaconess Medical Center, Whitworth College and Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children also will benefit from Miller’s generosity.

Difficult tasks

Spokane Personnel Director Jim Smith didn’t relish his role as the terminator. … Smith was the guy sent last week to fire Carolyn Lair, the city arts director with the lavishly embellished resume. … “My stomach’s in a knot,” said the kindhearted Smith just shortly after firing Lair. During his 18 years with the city, Smith said, he had fired only one other department head.

Flying high

A statistic-laden press release from Spokane International Airport can be summed up pretty easily - it’s a happening spot. … Nearly 2.5 million people flew in and out of the airport during the first nine months of 1996 - about 300,000 more than during the same period last year. … So far this year, Southwest Airlines has carried the greatest number of passengers away from Spokane - slightly more than 367,000. … Horizon Air flew closely behind, carrying nearly 301,000.

, DataTimes MEMO: “Public Periscope,” published Mondays, is compiled by Kristina Johnson 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.

This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS The Growth Management Act steering committee will hold two meetings this week to take comments about proposed urban growth boundaries. Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Ferris High School, 3020 E. 37th, and Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Mead High School, 302 W. Hastings.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Kristina Johnson from staff reports