Public Periscope

Rank has more than privilege

In his first week as County Board chairman, John Roskelley learned a little about the power and responsibility that comes with the job … On Tuesday morning, Commissioner Kate McCaslin wanted to expand the evening agenda so a landowner could seek permission to build a new road. Waiting a week could kill a real estate deal, she said. Commissioner Phil Harris was willing to make the change, but Roskelley said no, arguing it was improper to speed up the procedure for one person but not others. When McCaslin noted she had two votes, Roskelley replied: “But the chair sets the agenda” … Later that day, Roskelley let an angry speaker repeatedly criticize a county employee during a televised hearing, a decision he later regretted. “I should have said, ‘You can say what you need to about us as a county, but leave individuals out of it,”’ Roskelley acknowledged the next day.

Quasimodo no more

Spokane County no longer has an artist in residence. That honor was awarded in July to James LaVigne, at the urging of then-Commissioner Steve Hasson. The artist received a key to the courthouse, permission to come and go as he pleased and the use of the courthouse tower as his studio. Crews even spruced up the place. In exchange, LaVigne promised to paint a 7-by-7-foot painting for the courthouse foyer, pledging delivery by April … Commissioners said last week LaVigne hasn’t used the tower and they’re worried about fire - perhaps a legitimate concern since LaVigne said in July he liked to work late at night, by candle light. Francine Boxer, assistant chief administrative officer, said LaVigne can keep the key, although the courthouse locks have been changed … And the county won’t get the painting.

There goes our New Year’s resolution.

There were errors in the Periscope’s report last week about an error in a county mailing … Sewer bills for county customers are going up $4 in three years, not the smaller amount reported. And Bruce Rawls, not Bill Johns, is the county’s utilities director, noted Chad Hutson, Public Works Department spokesman … We didn’t mess up everything, though. The phone number listed on some of the 13,000 mailers did indeed link angry callers to the home of John’s father.

Another local guy makes grade

If you see stars in the eyes of Assistant City Fire Chief Terry L. Reed, it’s probably because he gets to wear one on his other uniform. Reed was recently promoted to brigadier general of the Washington Army National Guard … Reed is the commander of the Guard’s 81st Infantry Brigade, which means he’s in charge of about 4,000 soldiers in the mechanized unit, which is based out of Seattle. A decorated Vietnam veteran, he’s been a soldier for 30 years and in charge of the 81st for a year.

If the line’s busy, just stay home.

Want to know about highway conditions in northeastern Washington this winter? Just call 324-6046 for a recorded message that’s a new feature from the state Department of Transportation.

, 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 Wednesday: The debate over growth management continues. In the morning, commissioners hear arguments from nine developers who feel proposed “interim urban growth boundaries” are improperly drawn. If commissioners disagree, they’ll take further comments on those boundaries in the afternoon. 8 a.m. for developers, 2 p.m. for other comments; City Council chambers, City Hall. Thursday: Discussion of the proposed design for a skate park, which will be located under I-90 at McClellan and Bernard. 7 p.m., Lewis and Clark High School Cafeteria.

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