Public Periscope
So we’re wondering, why 6?
City employees in uniform generally know the older pension plan, known as Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters 1, is better than plan 2. Along with the better pensions and lower costs for members, LEOFF 1 includes medical insurance. That insurance was just expanded slightly … The Spokane Police Relief and Pension Board decided this month to cover the anti-impotence drug Viagra for cops on Plan 1. After reading the available information and conferring with two doctors, the board decided to pay for up to six tablets of Viagra a month, even though the condition it treats is not currently covered by the medical insurance contract.
Chow time
The Spokane County commissioners’ discussion about recouping court costs from criminal defendants went downhill in a hurry last week. After debating the matter briefly, the commissioners decided they needed more information. At that point, County Administrator Fran Boxer bobbed her head from side to side like a child and said, “Let’s have a meeting!” … “Let’s have a dinner party!” Attorney Jim Emacio countered. “Can I come?” asked Commissioner Kate McCaslin … Emacio replied she might not like what he cooked: “How does KFC sound?” McCaslin said she’d be there … Maybe the summer heat is taking hold.
Pricing priorities
Commissioners also had an interesting discussion about a request for $72,000 from the Chase Youth Commission, an amount that took county budget director Marshall Farnell by surprise. “Kids are important,” he said, clearly being facetious. “But $72,000 worth?” … “They do a lot of great things for those kids,” Commissioner John Roskelley said. “They do,” said McCaslin, “but that’s a lot of money” … At that point, Farnell shook his head and muttered, “Kick ‘em in the butt.”
The gov’s on the line
Nine-year-old Michelle Heacox was watching TV a few days ago when she got a call from Gov. Gary Locke. He’d read her letter complaining that Montessori and APPLE programs in Spokane schools are unfair to kids who can’t get in, and wanted to chat … Locke stopped short of offering solutions, but he praised her for taking her complaint to the District 81 board. “I told him the school board ignored me and he asked me if I was gonna go away,” says Michelle. “I said, ‘No sir, I’m not”’ … She said she’s given up on a response from local educators. The gov later sent her a letter urging her to run for school board someday. Her next stop may be the ACLU.
They talked more than business, though. Michelle was especially interested in his toddler daughter, Emily. “He said she was walking and talking and falling on her rear end.”
The cover shots could be spectacular
Would you buy a magazine with nice photos and interesting articles about Glacier, Yellowstone and other national parks? U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton thinks some people would - enough, in fact to bring some money into the cash-strapped park system … The Washington state Republican who heads the Senate subcommittee that controls the parks has a new bill to create a National Parks magazine that would bring in money through ad sales and circulation. Hey, it works for the Smithsonian Institution and its magazine, Smithsonian.
This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS Today: Spokane Public Safety Committee continues discussing a proposal to once again broadcast the names of suspected criminals on Cable Channel 5. They’ll also talk about panhandling. 11 a.m., 5th Floor Conference Room, City Hall. Thursday: Want a look at the latest plan for the new football and soccer stadium that Puget Sound voters approved in last year’s statewide referendum? It’ll be on display at a meeting and open house for the Public Stadium Authority. 12:30 p.m. for the meeting, 4 p.m. for the open house, City Hall.