GRAND MEADOW, Minnesota (STPNS) -- As service was suspended at Elkton Post Office on October 13 due to unsafe building conditions, other arrangements were made to provide for continued service for the citizens of Elkton. A "cluster" of PO boxes were erected on the east side of the Community Center, where those who previously held boxes in the old building can now pick up their letters and parcels.

According to Mayor Ron Kiefer, about 80 percent of the previous box holders decided to go with a cluster box and although it's been "an adjustment", they are getting used to the setup. Many still miss the "social" aspect of the old Post Office, where the daily routine included meeting and chatting with neighbors as they all came and went.



Others who previously had PO boxes chose to put up rural mail boxes for home delivery.

Keifer said lights are still to be installed on the Community Center's east side, for better use of the boxes after sundown, for those who are unable to pick up their mail during the daylight hours.

Postage stamps and limited services are available at Farmers State Bank downtown, as well as from the local rural carrier. The "blue box" is also still available by the old post office, with twice-daily pickups (no matter what the sign on the box says!), the last being at 4:30 p.m.

The Mayor stated that Jeff Kinney has purchased the old Post Office building, where he will locate his trucking company and is considering building a new post office, but as postal officials from Minneapolis stated at last month's meeting, this process (application, approval, building, etc.) could take about two years.

Meanwhile, Kiefer said some of the morning post office "regulars" have considered putting on a pot of coffee in the Community Center and visiting during their morning stop at the boxes.