BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The presence of asbestos has forced the closure of the Bloomfield post office.

According to a sign on the door, the post office has been temporarily closed.

After calls to the newspaper office questioning the sign, The Daily Statesman contacted the U.S. Postal Service office in Kansas City about the event.

According to postal service spokesman Richard Watkins, the office was closed due to a discovery of asbestos.

The facility, like many in the nation, is a lease building. A contractor has already been hired and Watkins said he doesn't expect the facility to be closed for long.

"Basically, it's closed for safety precautions," he said. "We acted quickly because the safety of our customers and employees is paramount."

Some were concerned because of proposed closures of rural post offices, but Watkins was reassuring about the Bloomfield office.

"It's not going anywhere," he said. "It's a nice-sized office and does good business."

Watkins gave no estimate for when the building would reopen.

Any mail inside the building will remain there until the air quality has been cleared.

In the meantime, post office box customers are asked to go to the Dexter office to retrieve their mail. All postal business in the meantime should be conducted at the Dexter Post Office.

Pertinent address:

Bloomfield, MO