Mail and package pickup and most post office services will be conducted from a mobile unit in the parking lot behind the Meeker Post Office starting Monday as the building undergoes an asbestos replacement project. Patrons are asked to be aware of changed hours, to collect packages in a timely fashion and to be patient and plan ahead to pick up mail. Concessions are planned for Monday. Mail and package pickup and most post office services will be conducted from a mobile unit in the parking lot behind the Meeker Post Office starting Monday as the building undergoes an asbestos replacement project. Patrons are asked to be aware of changed hours, to collect packages in a timely fashion and to be patient and plan ahead to pick up mail. Concessions are planned for Monday. NIKi turner Photo
MEEKER | The current location of the Meeker Post Office was first occupied in January 1964. It was the first building specifically constructed as a post office. Prior iterations — at least three from the time of the town’s establishment in 1885 — were in buildings that were retrofitted to serve as a post office.
After 60 years and some minor changes, the Meeker Post Office will undergo a significant overhaul for asbestos abatement. The abatement project will require personnel and patrons to adapt to some changes for mail service, as the building will be closed to the public for the duration.
Postal services will be relocated to the parking area behind the building, with staff making use of a mobile unit to distribute mail individually to patrons.
“This will be very time consuming,” said Postmaster Beth Fox, urging patrons to be patient and to allow for extra time to collect their mail.
Patrons are also encouraged to collect mail from their PO Boxes before the closure, and to plan on picking up any packages ordered as soon as possible. “We will not have the storage capacity to have packages sit for more than a day or two,” Fox said. If you can avoid checking your mail every day and limit online ordering for the duration, that will help with congestion.
Passport photos and processing through the post office will be unavailable until the building reopens.
“We will still be able to sell stamps and affix postage to packages as well as sell some of the Ready Post stock, as needed. Priority flat rate packaging will also still be available,” Fox said.
Post Office hours will be amended to allow for retail transactions between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with mail/parcel collection times extended to include the hours of 7-10 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. (these hours are subject to change).
“We may have to modify times and processes in reaction to how it works out as we go along and discover what works and what doesn’t work,” Fox said, adding, “No vehicles will be allowed in the back parking lot as this would cause too much congestion and no vehicles should stop in the alley way, except to drop mail off in the blue collection box. We need to keep the alley clear for the mail and Amazon trucks to get through.”
The building itself is not owned by the USPS, but leased. An asbestos survey done as part of the contract for the lease indicated friable portions of asbestos flooring. A complete removal and replacement of the floor throughout the facility was determined to be necessary by USPS Real Estate Specialists who handle the contracts with building owners.
When you go to get your mail on Monday, look for signage in the back parking lot. There will be a specific location for customers who are just collecting mail. Lines and wait times are anticipated, and staff asks for patience.
“We will have two clerks working inside the mobile unit during the retail transaction times and another clerk and one Postmaster will be running to the storage container for customers’ mail and packages,” Fox said. “The first day we will have concessions which may be available on other days if they do well in sales. The idea is to think of this as a fun adventure.”
