Mosier residents press city for mailbox installations; councilor warns home delivery could cost post office

Senior Center members and other residents pressed the Mosier City Council on Dec. 4 for local mailbox installations, saying the expense of private post office boxes has become prohibitive and that a bank of boxes at the Senior Center is ready to be installed.

"I will put the project at the top of my list and get the installation done ASAP," City Manager Andrea Rogers said, recounting a conversation with the Postmaster in The Dalles who told residents the boxes are in stock.

Residents asked the council to prioritize local mail access. Councilor Wright reported resistance from the postmaster to major changes in delivery and cautioned that adopting home mail delivery could jeopardize the town’s existing post office. "I will continue my research," Wright said, and told the council he would work with staff to survey the community to determine how many residents would accept home delivery even if it meant losing the post office.

The concerns were raised during the public comment period alongside other community requests, including a separate comment about the proposed skate park (see meeting record). As a next step, the City Manager said she would move the Senior Center mailbox installation to the top of the project list; Councilor Wright said he would follow up on the feasibility and community appetite for wider residential delivery.

The council did not take a formal vote on policy changes regarding mail delivery on Dec. 4; the topic is expected to return as staff research and survey results become available.