In brief: County will discuss civil service board

Spokane County commissioners will consider Friday whether a new civil service board is needed following the controversial reinstatement of a fired sheriff’s detective.

County Commission Chairman Mark Richard has been meeting with civil service commissioners. He said the board will discuss the possibility of forcing at least some of the three civil service commissioners off the board.

The meeting, which does not include public comment, is scheduled for 11 a.m. at their office in the County Courthouse. Some of the meeting might be closed to the public, but Richard said he intends to keep a “good portion” of it open.

Joseph Mastel was fired by Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich in June after the detective exposed himself at an Airway Heights coffee business. Last week, the county’s Civil Service Commission changed the termination to a yearlong unpaid suspension followed by a forced retirement. The commission also ruled that Mastel will be able to collect at least a portion of his 914 hours of unused sick time.

Knezovich said Wednesday that he plans to send a letter to the Civil Service Commission asking them to clarify what sick leave benefits they intend Mastel to receive.

Knezovich argues that Mastel shouldn’t get any of his unused sick time because the sheriff’s contract stipulates that departing employees with less than 20 years’ employment aren’t entitled to any unused sick time.

Volunteer named to school board

Susan Chapin, a longtime Spokane Public Schools volunteer, was appointed to the school board Wednesday night.

Chapin, 50, will fill the position vacated late last year when Don Barlow resigned after being elected to the state Legislature. She was among 19 applicants, six of whom were interviewed at length Wednesday in a public meeting attended only by school officials and candidates.

School board President Christie Querna said the board’s four remaining members selected Chapin unanimously.

A registered nurse and infection control coordinator at Sacred Heart Medical Center, Chapin has two children attending Ferris High School. She was named one of the district’s “outstanding volunteers of the year” in the 2004-05 school year.

University District is workshop focus

Members of the public are invited to attend an all-day design workshop on the future redevelopment of portions of the University District east of downtown Spokane.

The event is part of a three-day workshop that runs through Friday. Today’s session from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. will be held in the Bookie Courtyard, 410 E. Spokane Falls Blvd. on the Riverpoint campus. Discussion will focus on the area south of Spokane Falls Boulevard, east of Division Street and including the Sprague Avenue corridor and BNSF Railway tracks. The event is intended for people to drop in at any time.

On Friday, a community presentation is set for 1 to 3 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.

The workshop is drawing national experts in what’s known as “smart growth” concepts. Property and business owners, educators, government officials and community leaders are expected to participate.

Post Falls

Man hospitalized after collision

A Spokane Valley man is in fair condition after crashing head-on into a semitruck on Interstate 90 around 10:30 Wednesday night.

Dennis Soberg, 63, was eastbound on I-90 in Post Falls when he lost control of his 1989 Dodge Dakota truck and crossed the median, according to Idaho State Police.

The truck was airborne, ISP said, when it crashed head-on into a 2003 Freightliner semitruck driven by Selden S. Ouart of Clarkston, Wash.

Soberg was taken to Kootenai Medical Center with injuries. Ouart was not injured.