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Almelund Post Office closes -Residents may be included in Center City ZIPBy Danielle Strenke In May, the 65 post office box renters in Almelund were notified with a letter from the U.S. Postal Service, advising them the post office would be closing, because a mutual agreement with the store owners could not be reached. The Johnsonís, however, said they were never contacted by the postal service after written requests for a raise. ìWe hadnít gotten a raise in 18 years,î Diane said. ìWe sent out numerous letters to the postal service saying we were more than willing to work it out but they never acknowledged us. The next thing we know, theyíre sending out the letter.î She said post office box renters received the letter from the postal service May 14. Final mail delivery was Saturday, May 18. Diane said residents are understanding of the Johnsonís dilemma, but also frustrated with the postal serviceís decision. The majority of residents who held post office boxes are installing mailboxes to be on delivery routes, Diane said, while others will now receive mail at boxes in Taylors Falls or Center City. Residents will have to drive if they want to drop off mail as well, after the postal service removed the mailbox outside of Rodís last Saturday as well. ìThey said that we wonít be seeing mailboxes on street corners anymore, just at post offices.î Even more frustrating for the Johnsonís and the rest of the Almelund population, is the possibility of the town name being eliminated from the address as well. ìThey may take away Almelund as a deliverable address,î Diane said, adding that residents would then be lumped in with either Taylors Falls, Center City or even North Branch, depending on their address. ìThat would be sad. Theyíre trying to take away our identity,î Diane said. Johnson said the postal service has not yet made the decision about whether to simply change the ZIP code or take away the Almelund name. ©ECM Post Review |