Closure bad for stores? Chamber says post office changes affect business

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ALGONQUIN – A proposal to close the post office on Algonquin’s east side is drawing the ire of the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce, which says the move could negatively impact area businesses.

In an e-mail sent to members Friday, the chamber urged the community to contact federal lawmakers about the possible closure.

“We understand that in these current economic times, the United States Post Office must explore ways to improve efficiencies and evaluate cost-saving measures,” states the e-mail sent out by Sandy Oslance, the chamber’s executive director.

“However, the east side of Algonquin has a significant business community which would be greatly impacted both in their daily operations as well as their bottom line should the decision be made to close the East Branch.”

The U.S. Postal Service recently started a study to see whether the post office should be closed to save money, citing the declining volume of mail and a 2008 fiscal year that ended with a $2.8 billion net loss.

USPS spokesman Tim Ratliff said officials were reviewing the results of a survey about the post office and should make a decision on whether to close it sometime this month.

The post office, on Algonquin Road, has about 190 post office boxes, one full-time employee, and one part-time employee.

It opened in the 1990s after a fire destroyed Algonquin’s main post office at the intersection of South Main Street and Huntington Drive in 1991.

“We have an excess of staff and facilities to service a declining amount of mail,” Ratliff said. “We’re taking some steps to make the best use of our available resources.”

Oslance said the closure would create additional traffic at the main post office location on the west side of Algonquin Road.

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