MEGAN LEE Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Thursday, July 2, 2009 12:00 am
Hey, Answer Girl -
We walk along the Platte River Parkway by the Three Crowns Golf Course and have seen these big, orange, wooden boxes on the ground along the path. What are the mysterious orange boxes all about?
- Lon and Kathi
Alice Kraft, guru of all things Amoco Reuse Agreement, said those orange boxes act as covers for remediation wells on the old Amoco Refinery site (where Three Crowns is now located).
They're used during the winter, not only to protect the wells from the elements (they're insulated), but also to easily identify the wells in the snow. That way, Kraft said, no one has to dig around for the wells - they can just drive right up to the bright orange.
The boxes are placed over the wells after golf season, usually in October, and removed in April before golfing begins again.
Hey, Answer Girl -
I recently read that the city is going to spend $300K on a fence, which made me think of the very nice and probably expensive fence around the LifeSteps campus. Since this is not a big money-making institution, I'm wondering why this extensive fence was justified?
- Ann R.
You're right about the LifeSteps campus - it's not a big money-maker, and it was never intended to be, according to Peter Meyers with the city. Because it's a nonprofit agency that provides shelter for victims of domestic violence and the homeless, the rent at LifeSteps is just about equal to the operating costs of the campus.
Recently, LifeSteps has required some major improvements, include a heating system, upgrades to the fire system and the fence. The city provides those items to keep the campus livable.
And, he said, the fence at LifeSteps actually goes around Highland Park Cemetery, which is on the same property.
"Both LifeSteps and the cemetery have a great deal of street frontage, so it was important to have nice looking fences that don't detract from the appearance of the surrounding neighborhood," Meyers said.
Ask Answer Girl
Answer Girl tackles questions about Casper, the universe and everything else. Submit your questions by e-mail to megan.lee@trib.com, or call Megan Lee at (307) 266-0616. Write to Answer Girl, Box 80, Casper, 82602. Visit the AnswerLabs Blog Place at tribtown.trib.com/groups/AnswerLabs_Blog_Place.