ThereÕs been quite a flap at Burgland Drug Store this week, due to
the temporary removal of the popular mail-boxes in that parking lot. Due to the
building of the new Old Airport Centre, vacated by Duff Ace Hardware last year,
the parking lot was recently re-surfaced with asphalt. George Burgland, part
owner of the new facility, now including the drug store, asked the post office
to temporarily remove the four mail boxes, which have been there for at least
30 years, probably longer.
When it was time to have them re-installed, Burgland says he was
told by the post office they would have to be set in concrete at his expense.
He didnÕt like this idea and apparently no other options were offered.
Drug store customers and many other businesses and residents of
the North Henderson Street area have sorely missed the convenient mail boxes.
They are the only drive-up boxes on the northwest side of town. One has to park
and leave the car to use the boxes at Hy-Vee grocery store and the Sandburg
Mall. The boxes which were at what is now the Old Airport Centre were sometimes
so full nothing more could be mailed.
When asked now many people used the boxes, Burgland said ÒWell,
letÕs put it this way, last year we sold $90,000 worth of stamps so many of
those people probably used those boxes. And we certainly have no mark-up!Ó Even
though he has the expense of hiring help to work on servicing postal clients,
the convenience brings in many potential pharmacy customers.
Complaining customers, and there have been many, have been told to
call the post office or Congressman Lane EvanÕs office. Apparently things have
been at an impasse for over a week.
Mark Curley is the Officer-in-Charge at the Galesburg post office,
which means he is the temporary Postmaster. I made an appointment with him
Monday morning for two in the afternoon. He told me at the beginning of our
conversation that the mail boxes could be set on concrete blocks, by the post
office and at their expense. He said it was better to have them mobile, anyway.
He said they couldnÕt be set directly into the asphalt, according to
regulations, because of potential damage by rust and salt, and not being secure
enough. The old parking lot was concrete. He also said the post office canÕt
spend money on other peopleÕs property, and off-premises spending takes months
or years for approval. Curley said the boxes would be installed within several
days.
Burgland heard from me and later Lane Evans office that the mail
boxes would be reappearing soon, but as of Tuesday morning had not heard
directly from the post office. They are looking forward to their return and
after I spoke to George and Mary Burgland, I called Mr. Curley and told him
they were pleased with his proposal. Just to set the deal in concrete, as they
say.
Do you suppose that sometimes, without mail service, communication
can break down? There was obviously some miscommunication here. Curley said he
had received some pretty nasty phone calls. The Burglands and their customers
were upset and frustrated and the whole north side of Galesburg was driving
around town for lack of the usual convenient mail-boxes.
Now, everyone should be happy. A sign at the front of the Old
Airport Centre announces that the mail-boxes are coming back. As parade-goers
on the front side of Lady Godiva riding side-saddle on her white horse,
cheered, ÒHurray for our side.Ó
Caroline Porter is a freelance writer who can be reached at cporter@galesburg.net. Other columns are online at www.thezephyr.com.