By Shannon Lukens. (Photo of Rep. Neguse is from April 2023)
Congressman Joe Neguse sent a press release on Monday, Nov. 27, confirming that Steamboat Springs residents may soon not have to pay for P.O. Boxes and may soon get refunds for up to two years of past fees. That’s also what was reported in a Steamboat Radio News article on Nov. 19. The news story announced that 1093 Forms are going in local P.O. Boxes, and how residents need to fill it out and turn it in.
USPS PROCESS TAKES NEXT STEP FOR LOCALS TO GET FREE P.O. BOXES
We spoke with Congressman Neguse’s office Monday about the claim that this new development was a solo effort. They agreed on the continued and persistent efforts from Steamboat Radio News on getting free P.O. Boxes for residents who have no other way to get their mail, and that that has also helped with the efforts for local postal patrons.
Another omission was the fact that other U.S. Congressional offices in Colorado have been diligently working on this issue, including the offices of U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper. Their offices have elevated the issue repeatedly with the U.S. Postal Service. Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper sent letters to U.S. Postmaster Louis DeJoy on Feb. 23, asking him to address the issue. Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper even met with Postmaster DeJoy on March 7.
U.S. SENATORS MEET WITH POSTMASTER GENERAL
U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert has been receiving emails from frustrated postal patrons in Craig, and reaching out to regional postal managers.
Here is the press release from Congressman Joe Neguse’s Office on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.
Rep. Neguse Announces USPS Improvements for Residents of Steamboat Springs
Lafayette, CO — Today, Congressman Joe Neguse announced soon to be implemented United States Postal Service (USPS) improvements for Steamboat Springs residents. Following efforts led by Rep. Neguse, the USPS has indicated it will move forward with eliminating the P.O. Box fee for eligible residents of Steamboat Springs. Eligible residents may also receive refunds for up to 24 months of past fees.
“The USPS’s decision to heed our request is an important step forward for residents of Steamboat Springs as we work to improve mail delivery in our mountain communities,” said Congressman Neguse. “By removing burdensome fees, countless households across the community will have better access to timely deliveries for their medications, bills, checks, passports, and other essential items.”
On November 8th following several months of ongoing discussions with the USPS, Rep. Neguse sent a letter to USPS senior management urging the agency to specifically resolve the P.O. Box issue for eligible residents of Steamboat Springs—where residents who are not eligible for residential mail delivery are currently being charged a fee for a P.O. Box, despite this being their only option to receive mail. This followed Rep. Joe Neguse’s visit to the Steamboat Springs Post Office in April of this year to listen to citizens’ concerns about the Postal Service, P.O. Box fees, and the condition of the downtown Steamboat Springs facility this past winter.
In a letter accompanied by a PS 1093 Form that was delivered to 1,000 PO Box holders in Steamboat Springs regarding the matter – with more notifications coming soon – the USPS stated: “To ensure that we can identify the proper mode of delivery for all patrons, we are asking all Post Office Box (PO Box) Customers in Steamboat Springs to complete and submit a new PS Form 1093. PO Box service is a premium service offered for a fee to any customer and for no fee to customers who are not eligible for carrier delivery. PO Box service allows a customer to collect mail during the hours the box lobby is open. […] Updated completion of PS Form 1093 will ensure that the Postal Service has the most accurate information and assist in identifying the proper mode of delivery for all patrons.”
Group E Post Office (PO) Box service is provided free, with restrictions, to customers whose physical addresses are not eligible for any form of USPS carrier delivery service. Learn more about Group E PO Box services and qualifications here.
Congressman Neguse has repeatedly implored the USPS to address ongoing delays in mail services occurring in Colorado’s mountain communities. In January, Rep. Neguse penned a letter to the United States Postal Service (USPS) District Manager requesting the USPS provide alternate methods to pick up mail, expand opportunities for customers to access their PO boxes, aggressively recruit new staff, and meet with the affected towns’ mayors and county leaders. The Congressman’s office announced earlier this year that the Dillon Post Office restored 24/7 access to PO boxes and that the Grand Lake Post Office will allow for package pickups on Saturday mornings.
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Congressman Neguse visited the Steamboat Springs Post Office back in April.
U.S. CONGRESSMAN NEGUSE VISITS STEAMBOAT SPRINGS POST OFFICE
He also had a Call for Action to district offices last January.
CONGRESSMAN JOE NEGUSE CALLS FOR ACTION TO MAIL PROBLEMS IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Here is a list of news coverage in Steamboat Springs, regarding the local post office.
U.S. Representative Joe Neguse visits the Steamboat Springs PO
U.S. Senators meet with postmaster general
9News Colorado Mountain towns suing
CBS 4 Mountain towns pick attorneys to potentially sue USPS
Fox 31 USPS calls on workers to come in and help Steamboat
Corrigan wants answers to PO Problem
Should you be paying for your PO Box in Steamboat?
Congressman Neguse calls for action
Volunteers start cleaning the post office
Icy Ruts cause huge damage to cares in PO Parking Lot