Postal Service addresses questions on new Elko New Market facility

Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

Members of the United States Postal Service (USPS) answered questions and concerns on Monday, July 27, that Elko New Market residents had about the city's new post office and changes it will bring.

Margaret Campbell of the postal service gave a brief history of the project to the 15 residents who gathered at the Elko New Market City Hall. The Elko post office was in need of a new facility, and when the cities of Elko and New Market consolidated in 2007 it was decided to open a new building and close both offices. The postal service decided to do a discontinuance for the Elko office, which is a long formal legal process. Campbell noted the Elko office was chosen since it currently doesn't have a postmaster. Suzanne Mueller is the officer in charge at the office.

On Saturday, Aug. 22, both post offices will close. The new office, which is south of Scott County State Aid Highway 2 and north of Elko Speedway, will open on Monday, Aug. 24. Colin Krodel, postmaster at the New Market office, will be the postmaster at the new facility.

Campbell noted both Elko and New Market and their ZIP Codes will remain in the postal service's database. A resident can use Elko New Market in their address as long as they continue to use their current ZIP Code with one exception: customers who currently have a New Market post office box and want to continue to use a PO Box address will need to switch to the current Elko ZIP Code (55020) because the new post office is in the Elko area. PO Box customers living in the current New Market ZIP Code (55054) can keep their ZIP Code if they are able to change to home delivery.

The lobby for the new post office will be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Window hours will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

In answering questions about mailbox clusters in residential areas, Campbell explained that these are done for reasons of safety and cost effectiveness. She added that anyone looking to install a mailbox should contact the postmaster.

There were some questions about security in the lobby and the possibility of vandalism.

Dan Mooney, manager of retail for the USPS, explained they would start with a 24-hour lobby, but if there were problems, they would re-examine the situation.

One carrier was concerned about safety given the location of the new post office. Linda Padden, district manager of post office operations, said the safety of carriers was important to the postal service. If they had concerns, they should call the postmaster or the police.

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