Brenham Banner Press - Officials Say Post Office Budgeted For Renovations

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Brenham Banner Press - Officials Say Post Office Budgeted For Renovations

By Charles Moser

U. S. postal officials indicated for the first time Friday in many years that a new look may be coming for the Brenham Post Office.

While officials said a new facility was not on the priority list, Keith Parmely, manager of marketing for the Houston postal district, said Brenham was "earmarked for renovation funding" for fiscal year 2008 which starts Oct. 1, 2007.

In a meeting chaired by Congressman Michael McCaul, several members of the Houston district office met with a committee of Brenham officials that have led the battle for new or improved postal facilities here for many years.

"We have been meeting and asking for assistance from the postal authorities since the 1980s," said County Judge Dorothy Morgan.

McCaul said this was an issue the citizens of Washington County had made as priority for him, and he was determined to keep meeting with officials until adequate improvements are made.

Parmely said there would be money for refurbishing and expanding the lobby and customer service area.

While McCaul and postal officials agreed traffic safety was a major issue, Parmely would not commit to any solution to the shortage of parking or improved traffic flow.

Mayor Milton Tate said officials should look at utilizing property behind the post office on Baylor Street, and officials said they would look into that possibility.

Susan Cantey, who has chaired a task force seeking a new post office since 1998, said postal officials change jobs about every 18 months, making it difficult to extend dialogue.

"But, we don't think the citizens of Brenham have been treated very well by the postal department," said Cantey.

She added that in previous meetings it has been said the current facility fills the needs of the postal department, but the lack of safety and convenience for customers was not a real concern.

Chuck Kelly, postmaster of Pasadena and formerly director of postal operations for the Houston district, said the Houston district had devoted considerable resources over the last two years to repair or replace 52 post offices damaged by hurricanes.

He reaffirmed Brenham is still not very high on a priority list for a new facility within the district.

It has been reported by The Banner-Press that a new extended lease on the current facility, which was built in the early 1960s, was renewed two years ago.

The federal government is paying only $13,311 a year to lease the building housing its post office here, a fraction of the average rental costs for office space.

The current five-year period ends in 2010.

The $13,311 annual rental fee has been in effect since the lease was signed in 1985.

The lot on Market Street includes 9,600 square-feet of floor space, along with another 1,074 square-feet of loading docks and ramps. The entire lot is 37,830 square-feet.

At a monthly rental fee of $1,109, the "per square-foot" cost on just the floor space alone is a paltry 8.7 cents.

Postal officials said they had inquiries for possibly two contract postal units and indicated they would like to enter into a relationship with both if possible. It was indicated the projects would be moved along as quickly as possible.

"My pledge is to stay with this project. I would like postal officials to meet regularly with local officials and my office ," said McCaul.

McCaul also had postal officials meeting with Giddings civic and city leaders about a new facility for that community.

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