Owens introduces bill to transfer BLM land for Saratoga Springs post office

Burgess Owens, introducer of the Saratoga Springs Post Office Act, announced on Pioneer Day that he has introduced legislation to transfer about 20 acres of unused Bureau of Land Management land in Saratoga Springs to the U.S. Postal Service and require construction of a new post office within two years. "This land has no current federal use, but Utah families could put it to good use right now," Owens said. "My bill transfers that land to the post office and requires construction of a new post office within 2 years." Owens said his office began work on the proposal in 2021 after hearing from families in Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain and Lehi who rely on a single, overcrowded post office in Lehi. "We listened to families in Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain and Lehigh, all relying on 1 overcrowded post office in Lehigh," he said, calling the communities "growing, hardworking" and saying the message was clear that the Postal Service "is falling short." Owens identified the parcel as roughly 20 acres of unused "orphan" BLM land located near the Mountain View Corridor and Coralie Bridal Highway and framed the bill as a chance to expand postal infrastructure in northern Utah County. The proposal, as described by Owens, would transfer the land and set a two-year construction requirement; Owens did not specify legislative referral, the committee to which the bill was assigned, or any funding sources for construction. The announcement was presented as a policy introduction; no votes or formal legislative actions were reported during the remarks. Owens described the effort as beginning in 2021 and said the measure aims to reduce wait times and improve service for residents of Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain and Lehi. He closed by noting the proposal as part of continuing public service on Pioneer Day.