By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
CATHARINE — The United States Post Office is taking the final steps to permanently close the post office in Catharine.
The Catharine Post Office, 1676 St. Martin St., was shut down in August 2014. The building had structural problems. The landlord refused to fix the issues and the lease was eventually terminated.
The Catharine postmaster also retired about the same time.
There were 58 post office boxes in Catharine at the time the post office closed in 2014.
Postal customers in Catharine were placed on a rural route out of Hays. Postal customers were directed to Victoria, which is six miles away, for any in-person services that they needed.
Revenue at the Catharine Post Office was on the decline when the USPS temporarily closed the office on Aug. 13, 2014. Revenue at the office for the last full year it was open, which was 2013, was $7,610.
Permanent closure of the office would save the USPS $33,860 the first year of the closure and $268,810 over 10 years, according to the USPS report on the closure.
The USPS began researching making the Catharine Post Office closure permanent in March. USPS's report determined the former post office building was not historical.
Local residents have until Thursday, Sept. 10, to provide comments about the permanent closure of the Catharine Post Office.
Letters were sent to local residents that included a survey on area postal service. A public comment sessions was conducted at the Catharine School in June.
A 60-day comment period started in July.
Copies of the proposal are available at the Victoria Post Office, 1003 Fourth St. Concerned parties can provide written comments forms, which are available at the Victoria Post Office c/o Guy Moeckel, 706 Fort St., Hays, KS 67601.
The comments will be made part of the public record.
Once the USPS makes a final decision about the Catharine location, there is an additional 30-day appeal period.
However, the Hays Post talked to a couple of Catharine residents who said they were unconcerned about the USPS's move to make the temporary closure permanent.
One resident moved to Catharine four years ago, after the Catharine Post Office closed its doors. All he has received is rural route delivery.
"They mix up mail sometimes," he said, "but it's OK."