Wednesday, October 27, 1999
Liberty asks for post office
Residents fight long lines at 5 other locations
BY ANNA GUIDO
Enquirer Contributor
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP — More than a year has passed since this Butler County township heard it might get a post office. But postal officials appear no closer to a decision — a fact that frustrates local residents.
The Cincinnati district of the U.S. Postal Service had hoped to make a decision by last fall, but financial concerns and a change in management forced postal officials to put the matter on hold.
“All proposed expenditures for retail, delivery and processing facilities are coming under renewed scrutiny,” spokeswoman Bonni Manies said. “We have new leader ship at the local level, and those managers have to review the entire process, under new monetary guidelines.”
Meanwhile, the township's explosive growth continues. With a soaring population estimated at more than 20,000, Liberty Township is one of the Tristate's fastest-growing areas. In 1990, Liberty's population was 9,200.
“I think the volume of mail that is coming into and going out of Liberty Township would certainly justify the need for a post office,” Township Administrator Nell Kilpatrick said.
Liberty is served by post offices in West Chester, Hamilton, Middletown, Monroe and Lebanon, and the addresses of township residents and businesses reflect those areas. One of the main concerns of those advocating a local post office is the confusion and frustration that re sults from having five postal designations.
At the West Chester post office, increased volume from Liberty's growth is evident in retail sales.
“There's definitely a lot of Liberty Township residents using us as their post office,” postmaster Roger Baker said. “You can tell by the addresses on the checks people write when they buy our products.”
It's not unusual for mailboxes outside the West Chester post office to be stuffed with mail. Mrs. Kilpatrick believes building a post office in Liberty Township would help alleviate this overflow.
“When you can't even put letters in an outside postal receptacle because it's so full, I think this shows there is a tremendous load on this post office,” she said.
Kimberly Hunter of Liberty Township said Tuesday she stops at the West Chester station because it's on her way to work. But the convenience ends with the long lines she often faces there. “I have to wait in line 10 to 20 minutes, and it gets worse at the holidays,” she said.
The Cincinnati postal district is one of 85 that must compete for money to build and upgrade post offices.
“We put a lot of time and money and effort into studies and research to determine which needs are most critical,” Ms. Manies said.
Liberty Township trustees first asked the Cincinnati postal district for its own post office in 1997. About a year later, Butler County commissioners endorsed trustees' request by passing a resolution of support.
“Obviously, I would love to see a new post office in Liberty Township with our own ZIP code, but I don't hold out much hope for it at this point,” Trustee Margy Conditt said.
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