June, 2004: Still no word on a final decision from the post
office.
We are putting together the paperwork that has been requested by the
post
office and hope to have an answer from them in the near future.
May, 2004: We are making progress on the post office
project. The next issue that has to be addressed is the location of the
post office. We have to propose a building site that the postal service
will approve for the building. The will perform an onsite inspection to
be sure that the site will fulfill the needs of all that will be using
the facility. We still do not have a firm commitment from the postal
service on re-establishment of the post office. We do seem to be moving
in that direction. The Community Council will continue to pursue the
issue to its final conclusion.
April, 2004: No decision from the post office.
January, 2004: A meeting was held with Postal
Representatives January 21, 2004. The representatives agreed to
recommend reopening the Franklin Post Office with the community
supplying the building. More updates to come!! December, 2003: The Franklin Post Office was housed in a
building
that was rented. A 5 year contract had been signed just
months
prior to the tornado. The tornado destroyed the building.
The
postal service is now studying whether to have a facility in Franklin.
The
representatives told members of the community that it would take 2
years
to rebuild. When an offer was made to have it rebuilt quickly we
were told that they had to study it. Wasn't a study done
before
they signed the 5 year contract? We were told that
Franklin
was not scheduled for being closed in the near future (evidenced by the
5
year contract). Why is it taking so long for the postal service
to
make a decision? Did it take this long for New York to have a
post
office after their disaster? The owner of the property has
graaciously
agreed to rebuild the post office and just needs to know that the
postal
service will honor their 5 year contract so construction can start.
It seems to be a simple process to me but evidently the government does
not
work that way. It must be a complicated issue with lots and lots of
meetings
and discussions. The simple facts are: (1) A 5 year contract was
in place beginning in 2003. (2) The building was destroyed
through
an act of nature. (3.) The property owner is willing to
rebuild immediately and continue on with the contract. (4)
The only hold-up
is waiting on the postal service to make a decision. "The above is a personal opinion of the author. If you have
any questions about it please contact me at memrylane@yahoo.com"
October, 2003; Franklin leaders note that the
U.S. Postal Service has not made a decision about re-opening the
Franklin Post Office and is still studying the issue. However, they ask
that
local residents contact their lawmakers, as well as the postal service
at 1-800-275-8777, to express their opinions.
August, 2003: No decision has been made to date for
re-opening or closing the post office. Still time to send in your
letters or thoughts on the matter. Go to the contact page and
send those letters or e-mails.
June 29, 2003: The Postal Service held a Town
Hall Meeting, from 7-8 pm. The Postal Service stated in
their letter they want to continue to provide the best possible service
to the Franklin community. At the meeting Franklin
residents were told that no decision had been made to keep the post
office open or to close it. Please voice your thoughts and
concerns through the contact page.
The Franklin post office was the only office that opened
its window for retail business at 7:15 am and the only office within an
8 mile radius that was open on Saturday for retail
business.
Not only Franklin residents patronaged this office. People from
all
over stopped in because of the ease in parking, no stairs to climb, no
lines
to wait in and all postal services were available from there.
Convenience
and customer satisfaction was what made this a successful
office.
An elderly couple from Franklin commented on how wonderful it
was
to have such service from the local post office. If it was
raining
or snowing and they couldn't get out the postmaster would often (on her
own
time) bring their mail to them.
Please go to the "contacts" page and
drop
a letter or e-mail to your legislators. They need to hear from
us.