Published: May 31, 2006 08:08 am      

New London Post Office caught in red tape

Mayor: Planned modular building just won’t do

Tuesday, May 30, 2006 — After several false starts, a new post office in New London is still up in the air.

In a saga that started before Calvin Gaddy became mayor, a new post office to replace the cramped one in New London has become an endless quest to try to upgrade the facilities.

“The building that the post office is in is only about 1,000 square feet,” Gaddy said. “And it is 45 years old.”

Sue Huneycutt, who lives on a New London rural route, is supportive of a new post office.

“I would like to see New London get a new post office,” Huneycutt said. “This one is real congested.They don’t have enough room for customers or employees.”

Doug Carter, a New London resident said he gets efficient service from the post office. “They deserve better.”

“But I want to keep a hometown atmosphere - we don’t need a huge facility here.”

Gaddy said the post office is not sufficient for the town and there are a multitude of problems with the building as it is.

“The rural letter carriers have to sort the mail in a utility building behind the post office,” Gaddy said.

Gaddy has written U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes, R-Concord, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr, R- N.C., about the problems.

The post office seems to have been caught in a quagmire of United States Postal Service (USPS) red tape.

With changes in personnel at the postal service, the plan for a new post office seems to have been lost or has fallen through the beauracratic cracks.

Laura Caudell, spokesperson for Burr, replied to the SNAP’s inquiry about Gaddy’s letter.

“Senator Burr will look into the situation with the New London Post Office.” Caudell said. “However, Congress has very little influence over postal construction.”

Katie Norman, a spokesperson for Sen. Dole’s office, said she is looking into the situation and would see what assistance she can be.

Carolyn Hern, communications director for Hayes, said his office has been in contact with the USPS district manager and facilities service offices in Greensboro and Charlotte to try and find out what’s happening with New London’s request for facility improvements.

“We will continue to work and get a satisfactory solution for the citizens of New London,” Hern said. “Unfortunately, it’s taking longer than expected on the situation.”

Enola Rice, of the USPS Mid Carolinas District office, said that a modular facility has been approved at the district level for New London.

“While it has been approved at the district level, we are waiting for approval at headquarters,” Rice said.

“Using the modular building will allow us to add parking to the site.”

When contacted about the modular building plans, Gaddy was not happy with the prospect of a modular.

“I don’t like the idea of a modular building,” Gaddy said.

“I would prefer that a new building be built for the post office.”

In Gaddy’s prior communications with postal and elected officials, he has sent examples of the buildings in New London to show he would like to have the new post office reflect similar architecture.