AURORA - Years of discussion and planning about possibly relocating the post office in Aurora may very well continue for months - or years - to come.
Angela Kershner / The Citizen
Aurora resident David Kauber listens to U.S. Postal Service representative Paul Senk at a public hearing Wednesday on the relocation of the Aurora post office.
Aurora resident David Kauber listens to U.S. Postal Service representative Paul Senk at a public hearing Wednesday on the relocation of the Aurora post office.
Paul J. Senk, manager of regional real estate for the U.S. Postal Service, told residents during a special meeting of the Aurora Village Board Wednesday evening that the postal service is interested in relocating within the village. But with a lease on its current building that doesn't expire until early 2009, the postal service is in no hurry to make a decision on the move.
“It is going to take as long as it takes,” Senk said.
Public involvement in the process of relocating the post office is a requirement, he added.
“We will keep everyone advised,” he said. “We will listen to what everyone has to say.”
Village officials want the post office to be relocated to its former place in the Heary Building, yet Senk said that the postal service wants to look around and weigh the options available before a decision is made.
“We want to utilize historic buildings whenever we can,” he said. “The best way to kill a building is to leave it empty, and we don't want to see that happen.”
The Aurora Foundation currently owns the Heary Building, but Senk said that the foundation has not presented the postal service with proper contractual agreements yet.
“There are technical issues with that particular building,” he said.
Animosity between residents over the long-awaited outcome of the project has become apparent at past board meetings, with arguments sometimes taking place.
“Our only concern with the current location is a lack of adequate and safe loading facilities,” he said.Loading docks currently block the sidewalk.
A major concern of residents is losing the post office altogether, but Senk assured residents that they will not be removing the post office from the village.
He also reiterated that the relocation process may take time.
“We don't want to start quoting deadlines because we may invariably miss them,” Senk said. “Our lease expires in 2009, and this may take a while.”
“It is going to take as long as it takes,” Senk said.
Public involvement in the process of relocating the post office is a requirement, he added.
“We will keep everyone advised,” he said. “We will listen to what everyone has to say.”
Village officials want the post office to be relocated to its former place in the Heary Building, yet Senk said that the postal service wants to look around and weigh the options available before a decision is made.
“We want to utilize historic buildings whenever we can,” he said. “The best way to kill a building is to leave it empty, and we don't want to see that happen.”
The Aurora Foundation currently owns the Heary Building, but Senk said that the foundation has not presented the postal service with proper contractual agreements yet.
“There are technical issues with that particular building,” he said.
Animosity between residents over the long-awaited outcome of the project has become apparent at past board meetings, with arguments sometimes taking place.
“Our only concern with the current location is a lack of adequate and safe loading facilities,” he said.Loading docks currently block the sidewalk.
A major concern of residents is losing the post office altogether, but Senk assured residents that they will not be removing the post office from the village.
He also reiterated that the relocation process may take time.
“We don't want to start quoting deadlines because we may invariably miss them,” Senk said. “Our lease expires in 2009, and this may take a while.”
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Longtime Auroran wrote on May 20, 2006 1:43 PM: