Crested Butte Post Office begins cutback in services

Hope you didn’t get comfortable having packages being delivered…

by Mark Reaman 

Considered heroes by many in the North Valley, the workers behind the counter at the Crested Butte Post Office are dealing with several recent changes that surely are not making their jobs easier. Aside from losing the most recent postmaster, more impactful is the elimination of the parcel delivery service that has been in place for two years. That move immediately resulted in longer lines at the Elk Avenue location for people waiting to pick up their packages.

“About two years ago, the USPS (United States Postal Service) implemented a temporary Highway Contract Route (HCR) to help manage unusually high package volumes in the downtown corridor,” explained USPS Strategic Communications specialist James Boxrud. “Package volume has since declined significantly, and the supplemental contract route is no longer operationally necessary or financially viable. This change reflects the conclusion of a temporary contracted service and does not involve layoffs of USPS employees. This change does not affect mail delivery, which has never included home delivery in Crested Butte downtown corridor.”

He said the Post Office continues to “provide reliable access to parcels through PO Box pickup and parcel lockers, and we are monitoring staffing and customer flow to maintain service levels.”

Crested Butte town manager Dara MacDonald informed the council of the change at the June 15 meeting and said she is already fielding complaints about the pullback in service. “Enjoy the Post Office lines. They are back and they have been long this week. We received word that we don’t need it,” she said, noting that some people have complained to town about standing in line for 45 minutes. “We will continue to reach out about their actions in town and at the Mt. CB annex.”

As for that annex issue, the USPS has pushed to have people using that annex change their zip code to the Mt. CB code of 81225, even if they’ve had a Crested Butte zip code for years.

“The ZIP Code alignment at the annex location was implemented several years ago to improve mail processing accuracy, routing efficiency, and package delivery reliability,” said Boxrud in response to a town inquiry. “The annex facility is operationally tied to the Mount Crested Butte ZIP Code, and aligning PO Boxes with that ZIP Code ensures more accurate sorting, fewer misrouted parcels, faster processing, and reduced manual handling. Customers who prefer to maintain the Crested Butte ZIP Code may request a PO Box at the main Post Office.”

As for the postmaster situation, Boxrud said the latest postmaster transferred to another facility. “USPS is currently interviewing to fill that position permanently. In the meantime, the office continues to operate under established procedures with experienced personnel overseeing daily operations.”

Crested Butte mayor Ian Billick said he and MacDonald have communicated with Congressman Jeff Hurd’s and Senator Michael Bennet’s offices which have been helpful in the past with Crested Butte Post Office issues.

“While the USPS has said that package delivery is no longer necessary, long lines quickly returned,” he said Tuesday. “It is time for the USPS to provide home delivery like they do almost everywhere else in the U.S.”

And those “experienced personnel overseeing daily operations” are local heroes and summer is just starting to kick in. Thank them — and maybe deliver them some cookies….