Residents urge saving historic municipal post office; council gives foreclosure update on Hotel Fort Farvey

Brenda Garnett, a resident, urged the St. Marys City Council to help preserve an old municipal building she identified as the country’s first community-owned post office and asked whether local preservation groups might assist.

Garnett said the building is “the only community post office paid with public money in The United States Of America” and offered to share documentation. City staff advised Garnett to contact Craig Noble, and another attendee suggested Rachel Barber at the county historical society as a resource. Staff said the project had used a revolving loan fund with a state waiver to finance prior work and that a consultant and state approvals had been part of that process.

Later in the public-comment period, Tyler Steven asked for an update on the foreclosure status of the Hotel Fort Farvey. City staff said the city holds a lien on the building and that foreclosure proceedings were pending; a hearing earlier that day was described as largely procedural. Staff said a bank that previously had been defaulted out of the case is attempting to reassert its loan, which could delay the process and potentially change the order of priority on liens. Staff added that the building’s owner has died and that the city does not currently have substantial control over the outcome; the staff summary said the city was “in first position” on the lien unless the bank’s reassertion succeeds.

No council action was taken during public comment. The council’s formal business later addressed ordinances and routine motions.