Temporary closure of Mountain City site complicates access to residents’ mail
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Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Black bags were taped on the windows of the Mountain City Post Office as the site was unable to renew its lease for March. Those with Mountain City post office boxes now must travel farther for their mail.
The Mountain City Post Office was suspended at the close of business Tuesday due to the non-renewal of a lease at the property where the post office is currently housed.
A letter dated Feb. 24 with United States Postal Service letterhead was posted on the door of the Mountain City Post Office, located at 23 Dotson Street, Mountain City. Four black bags were taped inside on the front post office windows as postal service property was removed from the premises.
The posted letter read:
“Dear Postal Customer, This is to notify you that the Mountain City Post Office will be suspended at the close of business on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. This suspension is due to the non-renewal of a lease at the property where the Mountain City Post Office is housed.
“During the suspension period, customers who currently receive P.O. Box Service at the Mountain City Post Office will be provided with P.O. Box service at the Rabun Gap Post Office, a driving distance of four miles from the Mountain City Post Office. Current delivery customers will continue to receive daily mail service with package pick-up also available at the Clayton Post Office.”
The letter details that anyone desiring alternative delivery services should contact Postmaster Colby Nichols directly, as home delivery may be available.
“We apologize for any inconvenience these changes may cause and ask for your patience as we work to source a new Mountain City Postal facility for your future use. The Postal Service will continue to communicate any other relevant information to avoid mail delivery interruptions,” the letter detailed. A copy of the letter was distributed to all P.O. box customers of the Mountain City Post Office and was placed on display at the Mountain City location and Clayton Post Office.
The letter was signed by Nichols with a contact number of 706-782-5795.
It also detailed hours of operation for the Clayton Post Office, located at 125 N Main Street, Clayton which operates window retail service Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to noon; and the Rabun Gap Post Office, located at 5664 Highway 441 N, Rabun Gap , which operated window retail service Friday 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. and Saturday 7:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Both locations are closed for window retail service on Sundays, but have 24-hour access for P.O. box and lobby access.
Telephone calls and messages left by The Clayton Tribune for Nichols asking for comment were not returned at press time.