Public Periscope

A half-staffed policy

Spokane County has an uneven policy for lowering the courthouse flag to half-staff. Yes, if the president or governor orders the honor for a fallen national or state leader. Maybe for a local leader: former Commissioner Pat Mummey got the honor but former Commissioner Bill Allen did not … The issue came up last week when attorney Carl Maxey died and colleagues asked that flags be lowered. The flag hadn’t been lowered for community leaders in the past, staff said, and commissioners decided not to start a trend … That prompted a political cartoon in The Spokesman-Review, showing Mad magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman labeled both as “courthouse building mgrs” and “public idiot.” Building manager Wes Whaley took no offense, since big-eared Neuman looks nothing like him … Commissioner Phil Harris, who doesn’t read Mad and didn’t recognize the mug, said he thought cartoonist Milt Priggee was drawing former colleague Steve Hasson.

Conflicting opinions

Periscope would like to congratulate Spokane City Councilman Orville Barnes for bowing out of a recent vote on a proposed development, even though City Attorney Jim Sloane said he didn’t need to … Harlan Douglass wants the council’s OK to build apartments on 46 acres in northeast Spokane. Barnes chose to sit out the vote because Douglass is suing him over an old business deal … Sloane said the suit had nothing to do with Douglass’ proposal and therefore wasn’t a conflict of interest. But we’ve always heard the appearance of a conflict can be just as bad as an actual conflict … Barnes’ decision led to a rarity: The council voted 3-3 on the plan, which meant that Douglass, one of the county’s biggest individual landowners, didn’t get his land-use change.

Do they call him this to his face?

We were confused, then offended, and finally edified last week after receiving a fax with the heading: “POTUS statement on Boeing (WA).” Most of the staff were unsure what a POTUS is, and several said that whatever statement it wanted to make wouldn’t be fit for repeating in a family newspaper … Then a colleague explained that we don’t read enough Tom Clancy novels. His potboilers frequently use the acronym for President Of The U.S. Sure enough, the fax included Bill Clinton’s statement on the European Union’s approval of the merger of Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas.

Life in the fast lane just got easier

A tip for drivers seeking escape from commercial trucks and vacationers pulling trailers: Merge left. A state law that took effect Sunday prohibits any vehicle over 10,000 pounds or pulling a trailer from being in the left-hand lane of highways with three or more lanes … That includes the three-lane stretches of Interstate 90 through Spokane, as well as stretches of I-5 and I-405 in the Puget Sound region … Once signs are posted, the fine for violators is $66.

What’s next, water for the fire department?

Spokane County commissioners agreed Tuesday to spend about $30,000 to put a generator in the emergency services building if the city will split the cost. Lack of a generator forced emergency planners to leave their offices just when they were needed most - during November’s ice storm. Quothe Harris: “It was like Barney Fife running around with one bullet when the Hells Angels come to town.”

Rumor of the week

This is the week for people to file for local office, so expect a spate of announcements on would-be mayors or councilpersons. There’s some speculation that could include former city Councilman Rob Higgins, who lost the 1989 mayor’s race to Sheri Barnard. Higgins won’t confirm or deny. Asked recently, he merely said he’s got more spare time these days now that his kids are grown … Out of the rumor category is the candidacy of former Spokane County GOP Chairwoman Charlotte Karling. She’s announcing her bid for a council seat on Tuesday.

, DataTimes MEMO: Public Periscope, which is published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports.

This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS Tuesday: What’s a fair price for fair passes? County commissioners decide whether to offer a 10-day pass for $45 at 5 p.m., Public Works Building, 1026 W. Broadway.

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