WHITEWATER MAKES CHANGE: SMALLER POST OFFICES RECEIVE MODULAR LOOK IN PILOT PROJECT

WHITEWATER -- The Whitewater Post Office is among 20 small post offices in Missouri being relocated to new modular units.

The specially constructed trailers are part of a pilot project by the U.S. Post Office to determine if modular units are more cost efficient than traditionally constructed buildings.

Among other cities receiving new modular offices are Millersville, Sturdivant, Gypsy, Anniston and Gray Ridge.

"It's nice to have a new place to work out of," said Whitewater Postmaster Louise Stroder. "It's kind of a boost to my ego."

Until two weeks ago, the post office had been housed in part of an old storefront. "It was an old building and there were some problems," Stroder said. "We did manage to get the mail out."

Stroder said customers coming to the new location, just up the street from the old address, comment on the new facility. "They think this is really nice."

While the building is new, much of the equipment was moved from the old location. Slowly, the equipment also is being replaced.

William Trinqual, director of support services with the Post Office's Kansas City division, said, "This is a very small facility. If an office has very many routes, these units wouldn't provide enough room,"

The new offices are 600 square feet in size. That's plenty big for Whitewater, Stroder said.

The Whitewater post office has just one route. One carrier makes 340 stops each day.

The new office has a lobby with post office boxes, mail drop chutes and a service window. The office also includes space to sort incoming mail and postmark outgoing mail.

Trinqual said, "The advantage of using the modular units is that they are more economical in some instances and they are much quicker to get put in.

"We had them custom built to our specifications and delivered to the site," he said. "These are extremely energy efficient, with a heat pump, and they are absolutely handicap accessible."

Stroder added that the new units have another big advantage restrooms. "I'm sure people don't realize how many small post offices don't have restrooms."

The specially-designed modular offices will be used on a trial basis.

"We will try these and then do a total economic evaluation to see what our return on investment is for each unit," Trinqual said.

Before sites for the modular units were selected, Trinqual said, the offices were studied to determine the best option.

"In most cases, the modular units are winning," Trinqual said. "We've installed several in the southeast and we're getting ready to put some in the northeast.

"Where they have been installed, they seem to be working ideally," he said.