Residents In Edmond Neighborhood Upset Over Postal Service Changes

The Centennial Post Office in Edmond sent out a letter to homeowners in a neighborhood near Memorial and Broadway on September 26, informing them of a mandatory change.

The letter said mailboxes would need to be installed near the curb by the end of October or their mail delivery through USPS would stop. Homeowners were upset at the news that they would have to spend the money to make a change they did not agree with.

"That's stupid!" said longtime resident Larry Campbell. "You gotta be joking me."

The letter said that boxes had to be 40" to 46" off the ground and 1' to 2‘ away from the street, but still accessible from the curb.

"I'm totally against it. I'm totally against it," added Campbell.

Campbell is not alone. Many of his neighbors said they were not happy either.

"We had it out there years ago. I think it's much safer and secure up at the house," explained John Gorrell, who lives around the corner from Campbell.

"I just moved in a couple months again and it's just another expense," said a new resident in the neighborhood.

The neighbors said they worried that the plan would only make it harder for mail carriers to do their job.

"In our neighborhood, people do park in the street a lot. I think it would be a little difficult for the mail carrier in his little vehicle to get to the curb, to the mailbox," said Gorrell, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1969.

From ruining curb appeal to footing the costs on a retirement income to plain inconvenience, these homeowners said they wanted the post office to take more time before making a final decision.

"Why didn't they notify us two, three months ago if it was in the plans," said Campbell.

Officials at the centennial post office at 33rd and Kelley told News 9 that the letter that went out was a mistake and that residents in the affected areas will get a new letter in the mail Friday that should explain that service will not be cut off and that they're just looking for feedback on the idea.