USPS studying idea to close 2 Lake Tahoe post offices

By Kathryn Reed

When people in Homewood go to their box at the post office today they will receive a notice stating the U.S. Postal Service is beginning to investigate the possibility of closing the office.

The same study is taking place regarding the Glenbrook office.

“We are looking at locations that are stacked on top of each other, so we can still meet everyone’s needs and reduce our brick and mortar operation,” explained David Rupert, USPS spokesman.

The Bijou office in South Lake Tahoe closed in June 2010. That closure is estimated to save the Postal Service $2 million in 10 years. Down the road discussions about what to do with the Stateline office will begin in earnest.

On the West Shore, there are about 600 active boxes in Homewood. About 1.5 miles away in Tahoma are another 600 boxes.

Homewood box holders are invited to a meeting June 23 at 6pm at 740 Timberland Lane, Tahoe City to discuss ideas.

This is the beginning of the study process, Rupert said, stressing no decision has been made.

Some options include moving all Homewood customers to Tahoma, closing the retail windows and leaving the boxes, or having a remote location for mail pick up.

Dealing with the Glenbrook office may pose more issues because the next closest retail location in seven miles away in Round Hill. An option being considered is cluster boxes for those 150 customers.

“The problem is we have a very small post office that brings in very little money in Glenbrook. The costs are very expensive between the facility and the personnel,” Rupert said. “To have them kind of babysitting 150 boxes is hard to justify in this economic environment.”

Glenbrook postal customers have a meeting set for June 8 at 6m at the golf course.

Any changes to the post offices would not happen until the end of the year.