Since You Asked: Fire station just opened

Q: When is the Yuba City Fire Department going to occupy their new fire station? It's been finished for quite some time.

A: Not quite as finished as it may have looked from the outside, according to Fire Chief Marc Boomgaarden.

Coincidentally, your question arrived the day before the new station at 150 Ohleyer Road — just south of Franklin Road — opened for business on July 20. There were a few "punch list" items that had to be taken care of before the building was officially turned over to the city, said Boomgaarden.

The new station replaces the old Station 4 on Walton Avenue and is better situated to serve the city's growing west side, he said.

Construction started in about March 2008.

City Manager Steve Jepsen said two nonprofit groups, the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club, have expressed "pretty serious" interest in acquiring the old station. For now, the building is being assessed for possible asbestos hazards. Any cleanup cost would be shared with the new owner, he said.

The city would like to see the building used as a multipurpose facility for youth, he said.

If that doesn't happen, "we'll think about other uses in keeping with the neighborhood," Jepsen said.

Q: Who picks up the shopping carts that pile up at the recycling center on Bridge Street next to Danna & Danna Inc. in Yuba City?

A: Judging by the multicolored collection last week at E.H. Recycling, carts have been ripped off from just about every retailer in town that uses them. These are obviously the ideal vehicle for area residents who collect aluminum cans, just as popular in their own way as the Toyota Prius is with the more well-heeled set. One thing you can say about the carts — they emit no carbon dioxide whatsoever and get great mileage.

An employee, Ruben Juarez, said the stores periodically send trucks around to pick up their property. Judging by the collection there a couple of weeks ago, it doesn't happen very often.

Send questions to ryoung@appealdemocrat.com