Public Periscope

Brevity is the soul of something

It seems brevity is one way to tell the difference between a city official and a state official. City Manager Bill Pupo spent nearly an hour last week discussing the city’s appeal of the denial of a state permit for the troubled Lincoln Street bridge project. … Careful readers - and even some fairly casual ones - will recall that the state Department of Ecology denied the permit last month because it runs counter to the city’s own rules. City officials will ask an appeals board to reconsider and will ask the department to reevaluate that decision. … Asked for a comment later, Ecology Department spokeswoman Jani Gilbert didn’t wax eloquent. The department based its decision on facts, not politics, she said.

“We don’t have anything to reconsider.”

Another bridge, another comment

Speaking of downtown bridges, the Monroe Street Bridge - and a study of its crumbling structure - came up in a discussion between Spokane Regional Transportation Council Manager Glenn Miles and the City Council. Cost of repairs for the aging concrete river-spanner has been much on the council’s mind lately. … The council’s six-year plan lists the cost of bridge repairs at $8 million to $10 million. How did engineers come up with that figure? Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers asked.

“It was a place holder,” replied Miles. … Translation: It’s somebody’s guess.

Maybe it sounded romantic to him

Potential neighbors of a 12-acre commercial development near Division Street and Lyons Avenue were a little disheartened last week by the scheduling of a community traffic meeting: Developer Harlan Douglass set it for 7 p.m. Saturday. Which also was Valentine’s Day. … Why V Day? “It’s my understanding it was the only time all of the Douglass people could get together,” said Steve Chandler, a traffic engineer with J-U-B Engineers. … Residents, who weren’t in the mood to send candy or flowers to the developer anyway, were none too pleased.

“A group of us will attend the meeting and make it known that we feel it’s an unfriendly gesture and not in the spirit of good neighbors,” said Al French, chairman of the Nevada-Lidgerwood neighborhood council.

Let’s try ‘Evergreen Trivia’ for $200, Alex

Woodland, Milton, Bothell and Coulee Dam. … And the question is: What four Washington cities span county lines? (Thanks to the Washington State Association of Counties newsletter for this Jeopardy answer.)

Getting involved

The Spokane County Conservation District is looking for a district supervisor for its at-large position. If you own land in the district, you can apply for the three-year term. That includes residents of the cities of Spokane or Deer Park if they own land elsewhere in the county. Final appointment will be made by the state Conservation Commission. Call 353-2120 for information.

Gov. Gary Locke has named a few more local folks to state boards. Dr. George Lindholm, who is pretty much Spokane’s version of Quincy, was named to the Forensic Investigations Council for a three-year term. Among the council’s tasks is improving death investigations in the state. … Helen Malone, manager of a local legal services office, was named a trustee for Spokane Falls and Spokane Community colleges.

, DataTimes MEMO: “Public Periscope,” published weekly, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. You can contact us by mail c/o The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane 99210, or by fax at (509) 459-5482 or by e-mail at jimc@spokesman.com.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Hot topics Wednesday: City Councilwoman Roberta Greene will discuss “The Good City” in the second of a series of forums sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church. 11:45 a.m., Fourth and Cedar, $7.50 for lunch; call 747-1058, ext. 225, for reservations.

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