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Mayor urges federal action to resolve unequal residential mail delivery in White Salmon
Summary
Mayor Marla Keethler told the City Council the long-standing lack of residential mail delivery inside White Salmon’s original city limits creates equity and public-health risks and said the City is pursuing federal engagement and a solution by the end of 2027.
Mayor Marla Keethler said at the March 18 White Salmon City Council meeting that many residents inside the original city limits still lack residential mail delivery and must pay for post office boxes, creating what she described as an inequity in service that affects finances, voting access and health.
Keethler said the city previously pursued a contract delivery route during the pandemic and used ARPA funds to buy cluster boxes, but that effort stalled in 2023. She said the city’s strategy has shifted to securing no-fee post office boxes for affected residents and that the City has raised the issue with federal representatives, including U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. Keethler said the City continues to push for a resolution by the end of 2027 and that, if the city secures a solution, it would surplus the cluster boxes purchased earlier and return to council for direction on reusing those funds consistent with the original public-health purpose.
Why it matters: Keethler told the council that the lack of home delivery is more than an inconvenience — it carries financial costs for residents who must buy P.O. boxes, complicates vote-by-mail access, and can delay receipt of medications. She urged residents who wish to advocate to contact the U.S. Postal Service and the offices of the listed federal senators rather than the local post office.
Council reaction: Council members acknowledged the federal nature of the issue and directed staff to continue coordination with federal representatives. No formal council action was taken on the mail-delivery issue at the meeting.
Next steps: The mayor indicated staff will continue federal outreach and that the council will consider reuse of previously purchased cluster boxes if a no-fee solution is reached.
