Post office behind schedule

The U.S. Postal Service has pushed back the expected reopening date for its North Frederick Street facility in Cape Girardeau to the first week of September.

The one-month delay is due to prior commitments by the contractor and will allow officials to inspect the premises during the last week of August and move in over the Labor Day weekend. If all goes according to plan, doors will open Sept. 5.

For two years and four months, the post office has operated out of offices at 284 Christine St. Officials say they do not anticipate having a period of time when business will be conducted out of both offices simultaneously.

The post office on Frederick St. was forced to close its doors after a leak was discovered in its roof, the building stayed closed longer than expected after significant structural problems were found in the roof. Many local leaders had hoped the Post Office would choose to open a new facility on the city's west side instead of renovating the downtown office.

Dan Strauss, manager of customer services at the post office, said the contractor doing the work, Bratton Brothers of Shawnee, Kan., ran into three weeks of delays because of another building obligation in Fredericktown, Mo. Other than that, he said, their work has been outstanding.

"I'm really impressed with their work. If you went in there before you'd have seen that parts of it were pretty rundown and the lobby was dimly lit. That's all changing," said Strauss. "I'm excited about it. I think one of the first things our customers will notice is the lighting. It's just a lot brighter now in the lobby."

The final phase of the renovation will cost just over $200,000. Overall, the renovation, which has included significant roof repairs, will cost approximately $1.5 million.

Dave Bratton, co-owner of the contracting firm and project manager, said 16 employees are doing floor, ceiling, electrical and paint work. The workers have installed 1,450 new post office boxes and are laying tile and painting the lobby walls a brighter white color.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson said he has not been kept updated on the new timetable on reopening the post office. Knudtson, who lobbied for a new post office facility on the west side of town rather than reopening the Frederick Street building, called the relationship with the post office one of the most frustrating issues he has dealt with during his time as mayor.

"It has become clear to me that they put very little value on the input of community leaders, that they put little value on communicating with the community they exist in, and it's clear to me that I can do very little about it ... we have been virtually in the dark."

Because the office is on federal property, Strauss said, the post office leadership does not come to the city for permitting requests and therefore has less contact with local officials. He conceded that communication with the city might need improvement.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245