Residents press council after post office lobby closures block PO box access

Residents raised a sustained complaint to the Village of North Bend council that the village’s local post office has locked its lobby after business hours — reportedly around 5:00 p.m. — and remained closed over the weekend, preventing access to PO boxes for many customers.

Several residents described repeated incidents in which a single individual was entering or sheltering in the post office vestibule, prompting the postal employee to lock the door; residents said the lockings have effectively left about 600 PO box holders without timely access to mail, prescriptions and packages. One resident summarized the community view by saying, "That's not the answer," in reference to locking the lobby and excluding customers.

Lieutenant Dan Maroy and council members discussed operational responses: increased patrols near the facility to deter loitering, attempts to identify and coordinate with the postmaster or postal oversight officials, and possible technical fixes such as a coded lockbox that would allow residents to enter only the PO box vestibule while keeping the rest of the building secured. Council members said they would try to find the correct postal contact or a postmaster supervisor and follow up with the sheriff’s office where appropriate.

Why it matters: residents said the closure affects essential access to medications and routine communications, and they urged the village to press for a practical solution that balances postal staff safety and resident access. Council emphasized limited village authority over federal postal operations but agreed to pursue outreach and patrol options.

Next steps: council asked staff to identify the appropriate postal contact, gather names and details from residents, and coordinate with the sheriff’s office for additional patrols while the village queries postal management and the county postmaster.