firstondecorahnews.com: US Postal Service is installing new multiple mailboxes in Decorah

Mail delivery in Decorah is in the process of changing.

The U.S. Postal Service has begun installing multiple unit mailboxes in several locations around town--so-called "centralized box units."  The boxes have already gone up in several locations--including along the side of Weis Buick/GMC, next to Friest and Associates, and on Heivly Drive.  The centralized box units are paid for with USPS funds--they do not cost the affected businesses any money. 

Decorah Postmaster Lee Moser says the new "centralized box units" mean that mail carriers will not be stopping inside some Decorah businesses to give them their mail.  That's because the multiple unit mailboxes allow for quicker delivery and address the concerns of some business owners that they prefer to not have USPS deliveries made inside their business, due to liability concerns and problems with interruptions of business.

The USPS plans to add more such mailboxes in Decorah, including in the downtown area.  A similar campaign in Cresco recently caused controversy there, with a large crowd of business owners attending a May 19th city council meeting, according to the Cresco Times.

ButMoser tells decorahnews.com his office will work with Decorah residents to locate the centralized box units in "non-conspicuous" locations.  He also wants to meet with members of the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce and members of the Decorah Realtors Association to discuss the new system.

The multiple mailbox units will become more common in Decorah in the future.  Moser says another unit is planned in the near future on Decorah's West Side.  He also says the USPS wants to put up the centralized box units at any new building developments in the future.

The centralized box unit at Weis Bick/GMC