Potential reductions to Raymond Post Office hours

By Karlene Skretting
reporter.karlene@gmail.com
Westwind Weekly News

On Jan. 20 the Raymond Town council discussed a letter that the Mayor received from Canada Post at the end of December, detailing the potential reduction to weekday business hours at the Raymond Post Office.
The letter from Brent Guppy, local area manager based in Lethbridge, read, “… with lettermail volumes declining, we need to make smart choices to maintain local service without becoming a burden on Canadian taxpayers because Canada Post has a mandate to remain financially self sufficient.
“Our goal is to serve the people in your community when they use the post office most. A careful review has determined that we have a very small number of local customers between the hours of 8:30 and 9a.m. and between 5 and 6p.m. Monday to Friday. Canada Post is therefore considering reducing the hours of operation on weekdays.”
Regular mailbox pick up would still be available as patrons are use to, but the desk services like picking up a parcel or purchasing a stamp would be cut back.
Counc. Cathy Needham wasn’t overly bothered by the 30-minute reduction in the mornings, but is worried that closing early will negatively affect those that work out of town.
“When people are working in Lethbridge, that 5 to 6p.m. window might be the only time they can get to the post office, so I think that is a problem.”
Mayor George Bohne agreed and questioned where they got the stats from.
“I think they just established some general times without looking at the general use,” in our area, he said.
But went on to note that the letter promises Canada Post will consult the local people to see what the constituents needs are and that they will be taken into consideration if any changes will be made to the Raymond Post Offices hours.
He hopes that the evening desk service availability for residents that work out of town will be a questioned and addressed.
“It all represents a reduction in services, and that is what we need to be concerned about.”
Counc. Needham also brought up the challenge current staff will face, if they are forced to take to much of an hour cut.