Opinion Tribune (Newspaper) - February 4, 1998, Glenwood, Iowa INSIDE Glenwood claims crown 75 cents ONE 18 PAGES PLUS INSERTS VOLUME 134, NO. 5 MILLS IOWA FEB. 4, 1998 Silver Mineola post offices under M Community want full-service offices By Joe Foreman Editor SILVER CITY - Silver City residents sent a strong message to the U.S. Postal Service last week won't give up their post office without a fight More than ISO Silver City and Mills County residents were at the Silver City Community Hall Jan. 26, to hear about and offer comment on a post office consolidation plan being considered for Silver City by the U.S. Postal don't want to settle for less than a full-service office a Mayor Jeff Carper less would be is an important issue that we can't go to sleep Meeting goers were less than receptive to two options presented by Herb the Great Plains Region Postal Service Review Swan told the audience that the Silver City post office has been under review since last summer when his office learned of a postmaster vacancy at the Swan said small-town post offices are routinely reviewed when a postmaster position The first option Swan discussed is establishing a post Under this a private resident of the community would be to operate the post Hours of fees Md the Swan The postal service benefits from this plan by not having to pay the salary of a The contracted person would be responsible for supplying a building and paying utility and general upkeep The second option is to designate the Silver City post office as a Under this there would be no postmaster and the hours of operation would be Hours would be cut manly during the middle of the Swan When questioned by a member of the Swan said the Silver City post office generates approximately in annual The cost to operate the facility with a postmaster would be more than a he Swan conceded that the postal service had profits last year of around billion and that some of the funds saved through consolidation or elimination of small offices is turned into bonus money for managers and equipment and facility improvements at higher volume post Swan insisted that the postal service has no at this of closing the Silver City He added that loss of revenue isn't the only factor considered before closing or consolidating an Also considered are the number of customers served and the number of post office boxes Silver City has 126 rental boxes at its post Another 123 rural customers have their mail delivered by a carrier originating from the post office in Swan said input provided by the residents at last Monday's meeting and any comments received in writing will be considered when he and a panel of regional managers make their recommendation for Silver That recommendation must be posted in the local post office for at least 60 After the 60 the recommendation will be presented to the postal service's retail division in D.C. The retail division's final determination must be posted for at least 30 An appeal of the final determination can be made to * The rate commission has 120 days to make their Swan The Postal Rate Commission has the power to uphold or remand the Swan said it could take up to 18 months before the entire process is Many Silver City residents in the audience said they were suspicious of the postal They believe consolidation or a reduction in service is only the first step toward eventual closure of the Several Mineola residents were also in attendance at the Silver City The Mineola post office is also being reviewed by Swan's Weather conditions forced the postponement of a public meeting on the Mineola post office last Approximately 150 Silver City and Mills County residents were on hand for a public meeting last Jan. 26, In Photo by Joe Foreman the Silver City Community The residents heard about two options being considered for their post Photo by Joe Foreman Herb Swan of the U.S. Postal Service speaks at the Jan. 26 meeting in Silver Mayor Jeff Carper is Photo by Joe Foreman Cherri Spurlock is the officer in charge at the post office In Duane a banker in said the meeting will probably be rescheduled for Kahl said it is his understanding that the postal service is considering the same options for both the Silver City and Mineola Mineola residents also want to keep a full-service post he Mary president of the Retired Postmasters urged those in attendance at the meeting to fight for their full-service post you lose your you have no say on your postal she The Silver City postal facility is classified by the postal service as a Level 11 Approximately 40 to 42 hours of weekly service is Both the Silver City and Mineola post offices are being operated by an officer in School bond PPEL vote is Tuesday The fate of a million bond issue and Physical Plant and Equipment Levy is in the hands of the voters of the Glenwood Community School School district residents will vote on the two propositions Tuesday at Glenwood Community High Polling will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The bond a 15-year and the a 10-year will be voted upon as separate A 60-percent vote is needed to pass the bond A simple majority is needed for the The school district's current set at 67 cents per Bond Issue i was passed by voters 10 years It expires July 1, 1998. Funds from the two measures would be used for an extensive renovation project at West Elementary School and expansion at Northeast In tion to generating the PPEL would also allow the school district to enter into a 10-year 28-E agreement with the State of Iowa for lease of space on the grounds of the Glenwood State The school district leases space for its middle preschools and administrative offices from the state for per Included in the school district plan is nearly 27,000 square feet of additional learning space at One addition would house six a Talented and Gifted media computer staff one set of student restrooms and upgraded The second addition would house six a multi-purpose room and technology A complete renovation at West is a major part of the which includes the replacement of the communications heating and cooling auditorium electrical wiring and a fire alarm The 60-year-old building once housed Glenwood High School and later the middle It is now used for grades 3-6. School officials point to growth as the primary reason behind the need for expanded classroom Orange dots signal hanging branches The Glenwood City Council explained at last week's regular meeting why dozens of trees in Glenwood have been marked with an orange dot of paint Public Works Director Perry Cook said the trees marked with orange dots have dangerous hanging branches on them that were damaged during the October winter Cook said a private tree trimmer is in the process of removing the hanging The trimmer will only remove the hanging branches and will not provide routine trimming to any of the Removal of the hanging branches has started on the west side of the Some other items on last week's The council passed an ordinance to prohibit parking on the east side of Shamrock Circle in the Glenbrook II housing The ordinance was passed at the request of the public works director who stated that snow plows had difficulty maneuvering on the street The council agreed to a request from Police Chief Steve for the hiring of an individual to wash and clean police cruisers for per not exceeding three cars per The Bottom Line LSI I 2 5 3,6,18 4 7 10 11 Legal 12,13 14.15,16.17 Disabilities meeting at courthouse The Mills County Board of Supervisors wishes to invite all interested persons with disabilities and their family members to a public meeting to learn more about services and to offer suggestions to be included in the Mills County Mental Health Services Management Plan for 1998-99. The meeting will be held on the second floor of the courthouse Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. Summer Youth jobs program seeking applications for 1998 JTPA is already gearing up for another Summer Youth Program set to begin in This program serves 14 to 21-year-old individuals who meet economic guidelines or are Participants will be placed at nonprofit and will be paid minimum wage for between 20-40 hours per The program will begin in early June and run for approximately 6-8 Participants will also be taking part in Academic Enrichment one day per The purposes of these classes is to prevent the decline of basic educational skills over the summer Each participant will receive payment for their participation in academic Applications for the program are available at school counseling offices or at your local JTPA and Iowa Workforce Development The application deadline is March 31,1998. Call Deb Frazee at 712-623-9505 for more information on the GLENWOOD WEATHER REPORT H L RAIN JAN. 26......... 42 15 0.00 JAN. 27.........47 17 0.00 JAN. 28.........47 28 0.00 JAN. 2S.....47 27 0.00 JAN. 30............. 52 31 0.00 JAN. 31......46 31 1.50 FEB. 1__________46 27 0.00 Weather Report Courtesy of
