Public Periscope

Taking that tattered ensign down

Callers to the newspaper complain from time to time about the sad shape of the American flag flying above the small traffic island on Riverside Avenue in front of the Spokane Club. Last month, they had a point. After the ice storm, the emphasis was on Old rather than Glory. The mayor’s office apparently got some calls, too, and asked the city Parks Department to replace it … The city owns the land but not the pole, said Parks Maintenance Manager Taylor Bressler. When parks workers went to replace the flag, they discovered the city had no key for the lock on the box that controls the halyard. Neither did local businesses. Out came the bolt cutters, off came the lock, down came the old flag, up went the new. They installed a new lock, so whoever wants to claim ownership of the pole will have to call Bressler to see about a spare key … Before it was replaced, one caller alleged the previous flag was so old it had only 49 stars, which was pretty hard to check while it was hanging. Nope, it was a standard 50-star model, Bressler said. It will be burned with other old flags this fall by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Damning with fake praise?

City Manager Bill Pupo has received many congratulations on his recent appointment, but possibly none as double-edged at the one from John Talbott. “I’m sure you will follow well in the footsteps of your two predecessors,” Talbott said at last week’s council meeting… Considering Talbott has at times been rather acerbic in his criticism of Spokane’s management, one has to wonder if he meant that as a compliment.

Not a horn, but developers are sounding alarms

Visitors to the courthouse may wonder if they’ve stumbled onto a bunch of antique car enthusiasts. But planners, attorneys and commissioners aren’t trying to imitate Model T horns when they utter “Iooga” … Actually, that’s a slurring of the bureaucratic acronym IUGA, which is short for Interim Urban Growth Areas. Commissioners established the growth areas Tuesday, after months of hand-wringing over the decision … County residents wondering whether their land is officially urban or rural can consult a map on computer or on paper. Those familiar with the Internet can head to www.spokanecounty.org/build/ gma.htm … Traditionalists can get a real map from the county’s Long-range Planning Department in the Public Works Building, 1026 W. Broadway.

This spud’s for you

It is Potato Lover’s Month in Washington. Or so Gov. Gary Locke has declared, according to a notice from the state Department of Agriculture … So what did taters do to deserve the attention of the state’s chief exec and a state agency? They are a crop worth more than $550 million and are the state’s top export vegetable … So bake ‘em, fry ‘em, boil ‘em. Just let’s not mention them on our license plates.

Getting involved

Spokane County commissioners will accept applications until Feb. 20 for two openings on the water quality advisory committee and two for the noxious weed control board. Anyone interested in serving on the Interstate Fair Board has until March 4 to apply … Call 456-2265 for information on any of the positions.

, 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, 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 Tuesday: Organizations that offer services to military personnel and their families hold a Veterans Awareness Day at Spokane Falls Community College. 9 a.m to 1:30 p.m., Lounges B and C, Student Union Building.

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