Your article on May 31 about the Aurora Post Office contains several misstatements.
The idea of moving the facility from its present location in a village-owned property to the Heary Building did not originate with the U.S. Postal Service.
They did not “plan” to move “for more than three years.”
Back in 2004, they expressed no dissatisfaction with the arrangement which they have had with the village for nearly 30 years, nor did they
indicate that a relocation was needed.
The need for relocation originated with our mayor in December 2003, when he informed the USPS that the village-owned facility would not be available for their use after the lease expired in March 2009.
The Aurora Foundation LLC, a partnership between Wells College and Pleasant Rowland, wanted that building demolished for its own purposes.
The Heary Building, now owned by Wells College, was offered as a relocation site.
The USPS made it clear that the proposed relocation site does not yet meet their size, design, handicap accessibility or historic preservation requirements.
Now the proposed site has been withdrawn, apparently because Rowland was unwilling to compromise to meet those important requirements.
As a result, the USPS has asked our mayor if the lease on the present post office might be renewed.
Granted, the roof of the current post office needs repair because the village board, in its mistaken assumption that the USPS would move to the Heary Building, neglected to perform routine maintenance.
But a 3-to-1 majority of respondents to The Citizen poll favored keeping the post office at its present site.
And there are no other suitable sites available in the village center.
Therefore, only one reasonable resolution remains: Repair our post office building and renew the USPS lease.
Crawford R. Thoburn
Aurora
They did not “plan” to move “for more than three years.”
Back in 2004, they expressed no dissatisfaction with the arrangement which they have had with the village for nearly 30 years, nor did they
indicate that a relocation was needed.
The need for relocation originated with our mayor in December 2003, when he informed the USPS that the village-owned facility would not be available for their use after the lease expired in March 2009.
The Aurora Foundation LLC, a partnership between Wells College and Pleasant Rowland, wanted that building demolished for its own purposes.
The Heary Building, now owned by Wells College, was offered as a relocation site.
The USPS made it clear that the proposed relocation site does not yet meet their size, design, handicap accessibility or historic preservation requirements.
Now the proposed site has been withdrawn, apparently because Rowland was unwilling to compromise to meet those important requirements.
As a result, the USPS has asked our mayor if the lease on the present post office might be renewed.
Granted, the roof of the current post office needs repair because the village board, in its mistaken assumption that the USPS would move to the Heary Building, neglected to perform routine maintenance.
But a 3-to-1 majority of respondents to The Citizen poll favored keeping the post office at its present site.
And there are no other suitable sites available in the village center.
Therefore, only one reasonable resolution remains: Repair our post office building and renew the USPS lease.
Crawford R. Thoburn
Aurora