By Shannon Lukens.

 

United States Congressman Joe Neguse visited the Steamboat Springs Post Office Friday morning. He has been hearing about the many problems happening at the local post office. He made those problems aware to U.S. Postmaster General Louis Dejoy in a letter on Jan. 31.

“We’ve been very aggressive. I suspect that I’m the first Congressperson to visit Steamboat’s Post Office. It shows you how serious we’re taking it and we intend to keep pushing.”

 

Congressman Neguse is aware of the mail delivery delays, residents having to pay for a P.O. Box when they have no other way to get their mail, and how local residents took it upon themselves to clean the post office when there wasn’t a cleaning service. Paula Black organized that cleaning crew. Congressman Neguse reached out to meet her personally Friday morning.

Neguse says the work force issue needs to continue to be addressed and the US Postal Service needs to figure out how to acquire and retain employees in mountain towns.

“More specifically addressing the work force issue and finding a way to convince the postal service to change the classification of the folks who are up here so that they’re not ultimately recruiting folks who are only going to be here for six months, eight months, a year, and then ultimately moving on to their next assignment. So that to me, is the answer to unlocking most of this.”

 

At a Town Hall Thursday night, Congressman Neguse told one resident that the rural post offices, and those in mountain towns, are “woefully inadequate.” He said it isn’t the frontline workers, but “mismanagement at a higher level.”

Routt County Commissioner Tim Redmond was with Congressman Neguse Friday morning, as was Steamboat Springs City Councilperson Gail Garey. She emphasized the issue of residents having to pay for a P.O. Box when they have no other way to get their mail. Paula Black showed her receipt for a P.O. Box which is $198 for a year. Congressman Neguse listened and said he will be looking into that as well.

 

Alpenglow Village Cluster Box Update

Congressman Neguse was very aware of the long delay of residents getting access to the cluster boxes at the Alpenglow Village apartments behind Walgreens in Steamboat Springs.  Yampa Valley Housing Authority has been trying to get the post office to make the cluster boxes active since the apartment complex was built over two years ago.

Steamboat Radio News has just heard from Executive Director Jason Peasley with Yampa Valley Housing Authority today that the onsite manager at Alpenglow Village, Lluvia Cano, has the keys and they will be given out to tenants on Monday, April 10.

 

Here is the timeline of correspondence on the Alpenglow Village cluster boxes..

 

Feb. 17 – David Rupert with USPS Corporate communications told Steamboat Radio on Feb. 17 that the carrier was coming out soon to label the box unit. He said, “We are currently assigning these addresses to a delivery route along with the necessary mapping and data conversion so the mail can be properly sorted. We hope to initiate delivery to these addresses in the very near future.”

 

Feb. 22 – Then on Feb. 22, Rupert wrote, “As a heads up, the Alpenglow delivery might happen as soon as tomorrow.”

 

March 2 – On March 2, James Boxrud, also with USPS Corporate said, “We are working on getting those deliveries added to the carrier.”

 

March 7 – Then a week later, on March 7, Boxrud told Steamboat Radio News that he and the local postmaster would be re-keying the 80 cluster boxes at Alpenglow that day, since all the keys had been lost. They would get the addresses to the carrier and work with Yampa Valley Housing Authority to start delivery. This did not happen.

 

March 24 – Steamboat Radio News asked again about the status of Alpenglow Village and the cluster box there. David Rupert wrote, “Is there any way possible we can put this inquiring off until Monday (March 27).”

 

March 27 – On Monday, March 27, heard nothing back from David Rupert. But on Monday, March 27, James Boxrud called and said he would get an update. Said the locks at Alpenglow Village are changed. He said he did not do it and that maintenance did it. “But are they labeled and where are the keys?” he asked.

 

Tuesday, March 28 — I inquired again. James Boxrud wrote, “I wasn’t able to get a hold of the office yesterday but will today. I’ll let you know my findings.”

 

Tuesday, March 28 — I went to Alpenglow and the manager, Lluvia Cano, confirmed with Ed in maintenance that someone was there on Monday, changing the locks. Lluvia says residents keep asking when they can get mail in the cluster boxes.

“Residents come and ask me if there is any update on the mail and what is going on.”

 

Wednesday, March 29 — James Boxrud with USPS Corporate in Denver called to say that he will find out.

Thursday, March 30 – No response.

Friday, March 31 – Sent an email requesting an update – No response.

Monday, April 3 – Sent an email requesting an update – No response.

Wednesday, April 5 – Sent an email requesting an update – No response.

Thursday, April 6 – No response.

Friday, April 7 – No response from USPS in Denver. Yet. However, Yampa Valley Housing Authority Executive Director Jason Peasley says the property manager has the keys to the cluster boxes and will be handing them out to residents on Monday, April 10.

Friday, April 7 UPDATE: James Boxrud with USPS Corporate in Denver called one hour after this post to check in and ask if we had heard any update. I referred him to this news story.

 

From Shannon Lukens, News Director: I will continue to update this story. The focus will be on when residents of Steamboat Springs can receive free P.O. Boxes if they do not have any other way to get their mail.