Trustees tackle post office problem
By DAVID M GRIMES (dgrimes@reviewonline.com)Fact Box
St. Clair chamber supports retaining post office
By DAVID M. GRIMES
dgrimes@reviewonline.com
CALCUTTA - The St. Clair Township Chamber of Commerce officially announced its support of retaining the Calcutta Post Office as ongoing negotiations about an expiring lease are being worked upon before the Feb. 28 deadline.
First National Community Bank has owned the lease to the building at 15713 state Route 170. The lease will expire on Feb. 28, 2009, and no official decision has been reached by either party."
"We are hoping to preserve our local post office," Lori Kline, Chamber executive director, said. "We feel it is needed."
In the letter, the Board expressed the need of local postal services for the local business and residents. The letter is directed to Victor Dubina, USPS Cleveland-area spokesman, and Harry J. Myers, Marketing Manager, who earlier visited the West Point community due to a similar situation that is currently developing in Calcutta.
At the end of October, Dubina and Myers visited residents in a town meeting to discuss mailing options for the community that recently lost its post office due to an expiring lease. West Point has been without a post office since Sept. 30, although the USPS announced they received interest from two individuals regarding interest in starting a community post office.
The St. Clair Township Chamber of Commerce is hoping they do not have the same outcome as their northern neighbors.
"St. Clair Township is one of th fastest growing communities, with over 400 local businesses and we understand the need for a local branch of the US Postal Service," the letter stated. "Our businesses and residents support this office as experienced by anyone who has waited in line for the personal service provided by the professional staff at the office located on SR 170, Calcutta, Ohio."
The letter was also sent to Congressman Charlie Wilson, Senator Jason Wilson and State Representative Linda Bolon.
Kline said the board recently discussed the need to show their support at a recent meeting and felt they understood the need for the Calcutta Post Office.
The executive director said the Chamber does not want or intend to interrupt the negotiations, but the letter was sent because they felt it was necessary to express their interest in the situation.
Kline added the Chamber office has fielded calls from area residents about the status of the post office.
CALCUTTA - A concerned citizen, armed with ideas and a four-page petition letter regarding the preservation of the Calcutta Post Office, pleaded with St. Clair Township trustees for guidance and action to not let the opportunity to save the post office slip by.
At the administration building Tuesday evening, Paul F. Tilton, of East Liverpool Road, addressed the trustees about matters surrounding the Calcutta Post Office which may possibly have their lease expire at the end of February.
"Obviously with the problem with the East End Post Office and the West Point Post Office, then when all of the sudden you heard all the rumors about this one, it certainly raised our eye" Robert M. Swickard, trustee, said. "We want to preserve what we have."
The swirling of rumors led the trustees to speak with Congressman Charlie Wilson and with administrative members of the bank.
James N. Hall, trustee, said he has personally been in contact with representatives of the First National Community Bank who have indicated they want to keep the post office.
"They are willing to work with the postal service in any form or fashion," Hall said. "They want to get an agreement worked out."
The trustee said the United States Postal Service (USPS) representatives had been contacted about a year and a half ago, but have not easily set up meetings and discussions with the bank.
"It seems to be, the problem is on the postal service side," Hall said.
Swickard confirmed that idea from information that he has received.
"The bank's willing to do it, the post office [representatives] is dragging their feet and the Congressman's office is turning the heat up," Swickard said.
The trustees have vowed to help retain the post office and will meet personally with state representatives in Columbus during a convention at the beginning of February.
"When we go down we usually meet with whoever we can as far as congressmen, senators, representatives," Hall told Tilton. "We are getting meetings set up with them. We will bring this up."
Swickard also noted the St. Clair Township Chamber of Commerce is also throwing its support to the post office as well.
The efforts pleased Tilton, who requested an update on the situation on the township side of things. To the East Liverpool and Calcutta area resident, he was perplexed on why the USPS would want to aim to close down the post office.
Tilton, with the trustees agreement, stated that the state Route 170 post office is one of the biggest and busiest ones in the area that draw people from three states.
"I look at this as a community function," Tilton said. "We built this place up as a community and it's been so well developed and it's been so prosperous that we're complete. Take the post office out and we lost some of our [functionality] as a community."
In his letter to the Chamber of Commerce, Tilton advises the township to promote that initiative that all the businesses in Calcutta to write to Harry J. Myers, Marketing Manager, on their business stationary, with their personal objections and to copy the letter and send it to Wilson's office.
Tilton also outlined his personal feelings and rationale about keeping the Calcutta Post Office in a letter directed towards Myers.
Tilton then pleaded with the trustees asking what more can be done.
"Is there anything that I can do," he told trustees. "I feel like there's an undercurrent here of violations."
The trustees agreed Tilton had already done enough by becoming involved, writing letters and attending the meeting.
And on the township's end, the trustees agreed they would continue to work with Wilson and his advisors to follow the necessary steps to best prevent the post office from closing.
"Certainly, all the residents, we all have a vested interest in this and that post office," Hall said.
Swickard said the trustees can receive personal letters to Congressman Wilson and ensure it will get delivered to the appropriate personnel. Letters can be mailed or dropped off at 15442 Pugh Road, Calcutta, Ohio 43920.
