City consults public on box locations

Folks living on the south side of Sisters will soon have a chance to weigh in on the location of cluster mail boxes designed to provide easy access to mail when the Sisters Post Office moves to a new location.

The U.S. Postal Service is expected to break ground on a new facility on Larch Street well north of Cascade Avenue later this month.

The Sisters City Council agreed in a workshop Thursday morning that city planners should send out a mailing to those living near the 18 proposed locations for cluster mail boxes.

The mailing will include a map marking some 18 proposed locations for commercial and residential boxes scattered across the south side of Sisters. The mailing will also include a list of criteria by which sites were proposed.

The city will seek feedback from residents, then further refine its proposal in conjunction with the Postal Service. At least one hearing will be held before a final plan is adopted.

Public reaction has already been mixed, according to Mayor Brad Boyd.

"Some people are saying, yes, they want them in front of their houses; some are adamantly opposed to them," he said.

The City and Sisters Postmaster Yvonne Balderson "disagree (over) the number of locations," city planner Eric Porter noted. "The Postmaster supports fewer locations to make postal delivery easier, whereas the city believes multiple locations throughout the south side of the city would reduce vehicular trips and would make mail pickup/delivery easier for residents."

Whatever plan the city ultimately comes up with will have to be signed off on by the U.S. Postal Service.

"Ultimately it's up to the Postal Service," said Balderson. "I'm willing to work with you, but I have to think operationally."

Balderson has previously noted that home delivery is not in the cards. That is not her decision; the Postal Service nationwide is moving away from home delivery to central delivery.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 5415499941