Multiple Cape post offices a possibility

The U.S. Postal Service may reopen the Frederick Street post office once structural issues are resolved in the leased building, Cape Girardeau postmaster Mike Keefe said Wednesday.

Even then, the agency still might decide to operate a second retail office in a more centrally located part of the city, Keefe said.

But for now, the postal service plans to continue operating from its temporary post office in leased commercial space at 284 Christine St. The temporary post office opened in March.

In addition, some of the mail carriers -- who temporarily have been operating out of the regional mail processing center at 475 Kell Farm Drive -- will be moved to empty commercial space at 905 Enterprise St.

The move will take place on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, Keefe said.

The move will allow the postal service to better handle the Christmas mailing rush, officials said.

The mail carriers have operated out of the processing center on the city's west side since early January. The move was made because of a leaky roof at the longtime Frederick Street post office.

The Enterprise Street building, formerly a motorcycle dealership, is being leased on a temporary basis.

Both that lease and the one for the Christine Street building are in effect for at least another six months, Keefe said.

The postmaster said he doesn't expect the post office at 320 N. Frederick St. will reopen for at least six months.

The postal service currently is negotiating with the owner of the Frederick Street building, C. Allin Means of Durant, Okla., about needed repairs to the roof, as well as the electrical system and the ceiling tires.

Keefe said all of the problems can be traced back to the leaky roof.

Means has said he hired a contractor who fixed the roof. But the postal service hasn't been satisfied with the repairs to the 39-year-old building.

Keefe and city and chamber of commerce officials have urged the postal service to look at establishing a permanent retail office closer to Kingshighway, which would be more centrally located for Cape Girardeau. The community is growing westward both residentially and commercially.

The Christine Street location is close to Kingshighway and more centrally located than the Frederick Street building.

Mayor Jay Knudtson said he's written to U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson to urge her to lobby postal service officials to establish a permanent post office retail office in a more centrally located area of the city.

"I have always felt as though, to a certain degree, we were terribly under served with the Frederick Street location," Knudtson said. "I think we have clearly outgrown the facility."

Keefe said the ultimate decision rests with his superiors. As postmaster, Keefe doesn't have the final say.

Cost will be a factor in the building decision, he said. Repairing the Frederick Street post office presumably would be less costly than building a large, new post office.

"We are the only government agency that pays our own way," Keefe said. "Tax dollars don't pay for it."

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123