Post Office Trying to Fix Wait Time | Video

Chris Williams | 1/9/2013

Williston`s post office is one of the busiest in the state, and it`s understaffed. Trying to send and receive mail can be difficult at times. Postal carriers and are working 12 and 13 hour days trying to get the mail delivered. District managers are in the oil patch this week listening to people comments and concerns, and trying to work out some of the Postal Service`s problems.

If you`ve been to the post office in Williston, you know it can be a long wait. "I think a lot of the times when you`re trying to get to the window you have a 30 minute wait or more. The line most days is out the door," said Williston resident Craig McIvor.

To try and fix the problem, district managers are in the oil patch visiting local post offices and holding public meetings.

"In Watford City, we got a lot of information from the community and the other business owners of things that they were doing to survive during this high growth period," said Dakota District Manager Roy Reynolds.

The Postal Service had a similar meeting in Williston tonight. People had the chance to address their problems, which ranged from returned mail, to mail not being delivered until 10:00 at night.

"Carriers in other parts of the district, or across the country, they will deliver average of 20-30 packages a day on their routes. Carriers here, they`re delivering 80, 90, 100 packages," Reynolds added.

That number is two and a half times higher than the national average.

The lack of employees is just one reason for the long lines and delivery problems. Local post offices are hoping to hire career employees, so they are able to keep up with demand. There is one other option Reynolds is hoping will cut down on wait time and issues with delivery. "We`re also looking to see if there is any local businesses that might be interested in partnering with us and being a village post office."

Those businesses would be able to send small packages and sell stamps. "They would just contact their local post master, and tell them that they`re interested in it. We would get a hold of marketing our retail department, they would contact them," Reynolds added.

Until more employees are hired, some people problems might continue.

"Yeah, it`s frustrating. Everybody is busy and you don`t have time to stand there for 30-45 minutes." added McIvor.

Tomorrow at 2:00 there will be a meeting at city hall in Tioga.

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