Battleford town council is keeping a close eye on the situation with the post office in the community.
However, it is also a situation the Town has little control over.
Canada Post has now moved their temporary post office location to the former House of Kwon site at 35th Street in Battleford.
The new location opened Monday and takes over from the Hillcrest Centre location that the Town had been temporarily leasing to Canada Post. Customers are now able to bring their box keys to the new location.
The ongoing post office situation was “on people’s minds,” acknowledged Mayor Derek Mahon at Monday’s town council meeting.
Mahon noted there were a lot of people at the new location that day. Also, he mentioned there was a vehicle at the existing post office building on 22nd Street that looked like it was from a restoration company.
The existing post office remains closed indefinitely due to a bat infestation inside the building.
In speaking to reporters, Mahon acknowledged people were “interested in the long-term use of the existing post office,” and the public was behind efforts to keep the post office going.
Mahon had few details about any potential renovations or remediation efforts at the existing building, but did say it was encouraging that it seemed some work is going on.
“I know it’s something that’s on people’s minds. Of course, Canada Post has made some recent announcements in regard to community mailboxes, not in the town of Battleford but in other communities. So I guess maybe a new government might take a different or a new look at the situation and see what will happen. I can’t really comment on where that will go.”
Mahon also acknowledged Canada Post had contacted the Town back in June about “proposed renovations that they were thinking about.
“They asked about who the architect was that dealt with the Town of Battleford in the roof replacement of the town hall. So that was some of the discussion. And from that, we haven’t had a whole lot of dialogue back.”
Mahon also noted the historic value of the building and “we made that known to Canada Post officials when they were here in June.”
The post office situation is one the Town had little control over, other than their own dealings with Canada Post in approving their temporary lease at Hillcrest Centre as well as the building permit for the House of Kwon location.
“The Town, and me personally, do not speak for Canada Post,” said Mahon.
As for Hillcrest Centre, a decision has been made on the future of that building on 24th Street.
A request for proposals had been sent out and the Town has passed a resolution to accept the bid from David and Gloria Tkachuk in the amount of $135,000.
Two bids were submitted and theirs was the closest bid to the assessed value of $150,000. The successful bidders are looking to purchase the facility and turn the property into a residence.
Mahon said the proceeds from that sale will remain in the Town coffers and a further announcement will be made on that later.
