Public Periscope
Slipped through the cracks
About two years ago, South Hill resident Dick Adams got a late notice for an unpaid city utility bill. He knew the check had been placed in a drop box inside City Hall, so the outspoken critic of city spending marched down to complain. At the time, no one could explain the check’s disappearance … Just recently, the mystery was solved when someone noticed a slip of paper sticking out from beneath the flooring of the box. When the floor was pulled up, 12 checks were discovered - some dating back to March 1985 … “It was embarrassing,” said City Treasurer Dale Sciuchetti. Utility employees called Adams and the owners of the missing checks, apologizing profusely and offering to credit any late payments added to their accounts, Sciuchetti said.
Gotcha!
Coming soon to an intersection near you: photo red and photo radar … City Councilman Jeff Colliton said last week that photo radar will be up and running June 1, with police issuing warning citations during the first month. Real tickets go out July 1. Photo red - automatic cameras that catch red-light runners in the act - debuts a month later on Aug. 1, with real tickets going out Sept. 1.
Stone walls do not a prison make
With all the criticism of America’s jails being cushy, one might expect that inmates’ meals are served on silver platters. That’s not quite the case in Spokane County, but jail inmates do get meals in insulated trays that cost $60 apiece … County commissioners coughed up $15,000 Tuesday to replace 250 trays that are broken. That’s a lot, sheriff’s Capt. Jim Hill acknowledged, but serving meals in the cells saves on other costs, including cafeteria supervision … Seems there’s only one source for trays. The manufacturer is giving the county a deal because the trays are a style that’s no longer made. Commissioners Phil Harris and John Roskelley said they’ll look for cheaper sources … “Try one of your RV suppliers and I’ll try my Sherpa contacts,” mountaineer Roskelley said to road warrior Harris.
Deal of the week
In celebration of “Spay Day USA,” the Spokane County Animal Control Shelter will offer discount certificates for pet sterilization. The coupons, which cost $10, are for people who own dogs or cats that are licensed in the county. Spokane city residents are not eligible … Starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, 50 coupons will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the shelter, 2521 N. Flora. The coupon comes with a list of participating veterinarians.
Getting involved
The Spokane Regional Health District board has two new members on the Food Advisory Committee, which deals with grocery stores, restaurants and other businesses that sell food: Warren Marigny, district manager for Tidyman’s deli departments, and Eva Roberts, owner of Just American Desserts.
Speak out
Here’s a chance that comes around only once every two years: Tell a state commission how much you think your elected officials are worth. Wait, don’t say that. This is a family newspaper … The Citizens Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials is holding hearings around the state for the next three months, seeing how much a raise - if any - the state’s judges, legislators and elected executives deserve. They are ordered by law to consider the duties of the jobs and base the salaries on realistic standards … They also are required to listen to the public, which they will do at 7 p.m. Tuesday, at Cavanaugh’s River Inn, 700 N. Division.
What’s in a name
The U.S. Department of Energy wants us to know it has changed the name of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, known around the Northwest for 22 years as INEL … It is now the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, henceforth to be dubbed I-N-double E-L. It may take about 22 years to get used to the new name.
We goofed
Readers who tried to get a computerized look at the new boundaries for the county’s Interim Urban Growth Areas mentioned in last week’s Public Periscope may have been frustrated. We left out a few letters in the address for the Web site. The correct address is www.spokanecounty.org/building/ gma.htm … We’re sorry for the mix-up.
, DataTimes MEMO: Public Periscope, published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports.
The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports.
The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports.