FAYETTEVILLE HAS OUTGROWN ITS POST OFFICE

FAYETTEVILLE HAS OUTGROWN ITS POST OFFICE
From ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, June 21st, 2001
Copyright 2001 Atlanta Newspapers Inc.

By ABBY G. BRUNKS; Staff Photo The Fayetteville Post Office has existed since 1982, when Fayette County had approximately 30,000 residents. Now in 2001, with more than 100,000 residents to serve, Fayetteville Postmaster Tourgee Simpson said the facility simply isn’t big enough.

“We have a need for additional windows to serve the public,” he said.

“Because of growth and the customers who come to take care of business, the transactions can take a long time, causing lines to back up.” Simpson said the customers who run businesses in their homes or offices contribute to the lengthy lines because their needs require more time, including meter-reading or bulk mailing.

And while a new post office facility is being built on Ga. 54 between Fayetteville and Peachtree City, it is a distribution facility for the carriers.

“There will be no vending machines or purchasing of stamps at the new facility,” Simpson said.

The good news is once the new facility is open, there are plans in the works to remodel the Fayetteville Post Office. Some changes will include additional stamp machines, a retail postal store with more windows, and a redesigned lobby to accommodate quicker purchase of stamps, Simpson said. A start date for the renovations hasn’t been set.

Michael Miles, Atlanta district spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service, said the agency is trying to alleviate crowding at the Fayetteville location.

“In trying to address the issues at the Fayetteville Post Office, we’ve extended the hours of operation at both the Fayetteville and Peachtree City Post Office.” Both locations added an extra hour by opening at 8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon.

Miles also said the U.S. Postal Service has issued a freeze on all capital projects for the future.

“We are just not in a position to build any more facilities, and while we recognize there is a need, we simply can’t.” Simpson, who has been the postmaster at the Fayetteville and Peachtree City locations for five years, said it’s a frustrating situation.

“More post offices have been built on the Northside because of their fast growth,” he said. “Now on the Southside, our growth is reflected by the crowded condition in the Fayetteville Post Office, and that must be addressed through additional services.” Until the Fayetteville Post Office is remodeled, Simpson has advice for customers.

“We encourage the public to bring cash and utilize the vending machines when buying stamps,” he said.

“We just want more services for the customers, and are trying to help them understand what happens in communities where many customers work from homes and private offices.” Crowding at the Fayetteville Post Office is said to be exacerbated by the growing number of customers who run businesses in their homes and whose needs require more time. / W.A. BRIDGES JR. / Staff

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 21st June 2001