After All of the Effort and Negotiation

Glade Park Post Office

Still In Limbo!

Status Report: September 16, '07

It's looking a lot like a USPS kiosk...

The Glade Park Store does sell stamps. For those who presently have post office boxes it will be a step down, since there is now a service window at the trailer. But for those who are waiting for a post office box, it will at long last be possible for them to get one. For those who are disappointed, it is important to remember that the hardship of constructing and maintaining a post office building was thrust upon the community, and found to be too heavy a burden, without unanimous support. The kiosk will be provided by the USPS, as it should be.

By the way, Webster’s' Unabridged defines a kiosk as: "1) a kind of open pavilion or summerhouse common in Turkey or Iran. 2) a similar structure used as a bandstand or newsstand, etc." That doesn't exactly put us on the cutting edge of civilization, does it?

Another Question Unanswered!

Once upon a time...

On a spring day in March, 2006 the US Postal Service did the unthinkable. They came into the Glade Park Store and dismantled the post office. They carried away the post office boxes and the mail, and took them down to the main post office in Grand Junction. This created an anomaly, a disruption in the time/space continuum that Glade Parkers were hardly capable of grasping. For almost a hundred years the Glade Park Store and the Glade Park Post Office had never been considered as separate entities. They had complimented one another, providing a convenient place to meet and greet neighbors, while picking up the mail and a carton of eggs. Continuity… community… it was all turned upside down. Those of us with Post Office boxes received a letter on March 31 from the USPS informing us of the situation, and presenting centralized delivery or “cluster boxes” as the likely solution.

While still in a state of shock, we dealt with the inconvenience of having to go to the main post office in Grand Junction, during window hours, find parking, and stand in line to get our mail. Some working people had to take time off to get there during window hours. Phone calls were made to senators, county commissioners, anyone who would listen. After a few days they did open a window for us, and extend the pick-up hours. But it was little consolation, especially for those who had to make a trip to town just to get their mail. Therefore our outrage was appeased somewhat when the USPS rented a trailer, which was placed next to the Glade Park Community Services building, with our old post office boxes installed in it. It opened on April 10, 2006, and was staffed by a USPS employee, who sorted the mail, and was available at the window to sell stamps, accept packages, etc. The extended hours of accessibility were appreciated. But we were assured it is a temporary situation.

The Glade Park Community Services organization, headed by President Dave Brach, assumed the leadership role, and helped arrange a hastily called meeting at the Community Services building. The crowd spilled out to the parking lot. People stood at the open windows, trying to hear what was being spoken inside, hollering out questions that had already been responded to, though not always answered. Inside the air was electric. At times voices were raised. A Mesa County Deputy stood by the door, looking calm but alert.

Several points became clear as soon as we were able to accept them. We would not know the reason the post office was removed from the store. It was and is confidential. The post office would not be moving back to the store under any circumstances. Moving on. The U.S. Postal Service said that funds were not available to build a new post office, and they would not be delivering to private boxes at each home. They were willing to put in “cluster boxes” throughout the community. There were numerous objections to this alternative: security problems, no window services, lack of climate control for things like medications and baby chicks, and a loss of the sense of community that comes with a place were all paths cross. By the end of the meeting we knew that hope of a central post office soundly rested in our own collective lap.

More meetings were held, each one attended by fewer people. There was a strong movement to put together a plan to put a building on Glade Park Community Services property, next to the Community Services building. Although they had funds to acquire property, buy and install cluster boxes, employ a delivery person, and run a delivery truck around delivering to the boxes, the USPS assured us that they did not have funds to contribute to construction and/or maintenance of a centrally located Post Office building. Grants and contributions in materials and labor would be pursued, along with tackling the Mesa County regulations, etc. But the efforts went on, headed up by GPSC President Dave Brach. Laura and Jerry Livingston, owners of Livingston Construction, volunteered to be general contractors. The June 7, 2006 Community News listed ongoing work in the areas of: property survey, zoning, major site plan, building design/placement, title work, traffic survey, and back-up plan.

A community survey was conducted. The results were published in the Fall, 2006 GPCS Community News. The results were similar, in effect, to the old after-shave commercial where the user received a brisk slap on the cheek, and responded with “Thanks, I needed that.” It appears to have caused GPCS to step back and take stock. Of 446 surveys mailed out, 264 (59%) were not responded to, 173 (39%) were “returned valid.” Of those who responded, 72% preferred a central post office, with 21% preferring the cluster units, and 6% with “valley elsewhere, don’t care.” Of those who wanted a central location, 64% wanted a building, and 14% voted for a kiosk. While the central building plans indicated that there would need to be some funds for ongoing maintenance, only 72% of those who cared enough to respond were willing to donate $2/month to that end. The efforts to find grant funds had also come up empty handed.
At the January 17, 2007 Annual Meeting of Glade Park Community Services we were briefed on where the Post Office situation stood at that point. To provide that information in Dave Brach’s own words, here is an excerpt from the Winter, 2007 GPCS Newsletter:

“A great deal of time was consumed this last year with the mail delivery dilemma. Our organization expended a huge effort and a few hundred dollars preparing what we eventually offered up as a solution to the USPS. The USPS was not able to commit any dollars to the solution, so our organization was not willing to go forward under those terms. It remains to be seen what happens next; there are renewed discussions with USPS. The mail is still delivered on the park to the trailer on our property… Many individuals and businesses contributed a great deal to out PO efforts—too many to list them all here. We are very thankful for all their assistance.” -- Dave Brach

What Do You Think? Glade Park Forum