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Isanti City staff proposes locking mailbox at City Hall as post office relocates
Summary
City staff told the council a locking USPS mailbox at City Hall would save staff time, allow package delivery and reduce safety issues with the existing outdoor utility dropbox; the council asked staff to pursue logistics and report back.
A city staff member told the Isanti City Council that the U.S. Postal Service’s planned move within city limits prompted staff to explore installing a locking mailbox at City Hall so daily staff trips to the post office could be cut back.
“We could have a mailbox so we don't have to have staff time to go to the post office every day,” the staff member said, noting the change would also allow some packages to be delivered directly to City Hall rather than generating separate pickup trips.
Staff explained the city currently maintains two PO boxes and an outdoor dropbox used for utility payments. That dropbox has presented occasional safety and reliability problems in winter—ice around the slot and mechanical jams—and staff suggested combining a locking mailbox with a below‑mounted dropbox for payments if Postal Service rules permit it.
On cost, the staff member and council discussed ballpark figures. Staff estimated current PO boxes cost roughly $9 per month each—about $200 per year for two boxes—while noting the primary savings would come from reduced staff time (an estimated two hours per week spent traveling to the bank and post office). A locking mailbox and combined dropbox would carry a modest upfront purchase and installation cost but could reduce recurring staff time and exposure to icy conditions.
Council members raised logistics: whether delivered mail would arrive early enough for same‑day processing, how the city would treat postmarked dates at billing deadlines, and whether the utility slot could remain if Postal Service rules prohibit a combined unit. Staff said the Post Office indicated a mailbox at the west side of First Avenue would be acceptable but that they would confirm allowable configurations for a combined dropbox.
Council did not take a formal vote; members indicated general interest and asked staff to pursue permissions and detailed cost estimates and return with recommendations at a future meeting.
