Wasilla mayor in search of answers as residents voice concerns over long waits at the post office

WASILLA — As the holiday season nears, Wasilla residents have already been facing long lines and an even longer wait at their local post office.

“This problem of growth is only going to get more challenging with regards to a post office. By addressing this problem now we can get ahead of the curve,” Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle said.

Cottle has been fielding calls about the postal problems for months and says that the problem will continue with the growth of the Valley if a new post office is not arranged.

Cottle believes that having two locations that are both crowded is inefficient, and a larger postal service building would serve residents better.

With facilities for postal pick up on Main Street and at the carrier Annex on Cottle Loop, Wasilla’s residents seem to be ordering more packages than can be delivered. Legends of lines at the annex that resemble a game of snake inside the building and continue along the edge have altered schedules and frustrated residents just trying to pick up their mail.

“It’s really unsatisfactory people can’t afford to spend an hour there,” Bill Bear said.

Bear has struggled with picking up mail at the Annex around his schedule so much that he moved his postal service elsewhere. While Bear can afford it, he sympathizes with those who cant and have to continue waiting in line for mail. While the staffing has been increased and hours added at the Annex, Bear wonders what type of horrific lines will stretch around the building when the holidays come around. Not only is it frustrating residents, but elected officials as well.

“My frustration level is when, because they don’t get any results back or any feedback from the post office so they call me,” Cottle said.

Without jurisdiction over the postal Annex and without means to solve the problem himself, Cottle reached out to Alaska’s representatives in Washington D.C., for help. Cottle believes that combining the two locations would be safer, cost effective, and less stressful for staff.

“For the reasons above, which include safety, personnel costs, expansion, and operating costs, we believe that a new post office in Wasilla would better serve everyone,” Cottle wrote.

Bear has tried to beat the rush by showing up before the Annex opens only to find a dozen people waiting there already. Bear believes that the building was not designed for delivering packages, and hopes that a solution is on the way.

“There’s something grossly wrong with this,” Bear said.