Issues at new Palmetto distribution center among factors
Delivery delays stemming from issues at a new distribution plant in Palmetto, Ga., and recent changes in how the U.S. Postal Service handles mail are being felt here.
A slowdown in the outgoing mail process has made headlines since the Palmetto facility, a regional hub for mail processing, opened in February. Other factors, including Georgia’s shift to a Local Transportation Optimization (LTO) program, are also affecting the mail pickup/delivery process. This change means one truck a day comes to the post office to pick up mail, rather than multiple trucks throughout the day.
A March statement by the American Postal Workers Union highlighted some of the reasons that mail is arriving late or not at all to more customers not only in Georgia, but nationwide. The USPS is “currently experiencing the largest changes in the history of postal operations,” and the changes “will have a direct impact on rural America,” the union’s statement said.
“Many of these changes have failed to demonstrate that they are in the best interests of our customers and are destined to negatively impact our communities. Overnight delivery is no longer an item, Express Mail is on its way out (and) the First-Class package is gone,” the postal workers union also stated.
When we contacted the Ellijay Post Office to ask about some of the changes, the Times-Courier was referred to the postal service’s media relations department, which respectfully declined to provide answers to our questions, but did provide the following statement:
The postal service plays an important role in the community, and we are committed to providing the best service possible. While a significant portion of mail and packages in the Atlanta service area, which includes Ellijay, is being delivered in a timely manner, management is aware of the concerns of some local customers regarding their mail and package delivery and are working quickly to resolve any issues. Operations are improving as we continue to make significant investments in the Atlanta area, including new sorting machines, upgraded facilities and more efficient transportation that will help ensure our organization can provide reliable delivery services for years to come. We sincerely express our apologies to our customers who may have experienced a deviation from our normal dependable service and appreciate their patience.
On the Times-Courier Facebook page, we asked if local residents are having issues with their mail delivery, particularly within the last few months. The almost 200 responses showed that most of those who responded have experienced some type of issue.
Checks, packages, bills, tax returns and Christmas cards were among items mentioned in the Facebook replies as either being delivered very late or not all. Several responses noted that the holdup is at the Palmetto facility, where the progress of their in-transit packages has stalled.
This, as some who responded pointed out, is not necessarily a reflection of the local post office’s performance, but the changing state of mail delivery felt by customers nationwide. Several readers offered notes of support for their local carriers.
“It’s not the mail carriers’ fault. It’s the sorting mail in the distribution center,” commented Geraldine Tankersley Petkus.
Ellijay resident Michael Hill said he’s had a few pieces of mail go missing or arrive late recently.
A Medicare form arriving a couple of months late caused a headache and additional paperwork that wouldn’t have been required otherwise, and he’s still waiting for another important Medicare form, which should’ve arrived by now. Hill said a package ordered by his wife circled back and forth from Atlanta to Palmetto for five weeks before it finally showed up.
“I get the junk mail, but I’m missing the important stuff,” he added. “I do feel bad for the local workers if they get yelled at by people. It’s not their fault. They’re just trying to get out what they have (to deliver).”
One Gilmer resident even addressed the county commissioners about mail delivery issues.
In public comments at the Feb. 8 Gilmer Board of Commissioners meeting, Scott Siegel said he knows the commissioners have no oversight of the post office, but he wanted to make them aware of what some local residents are experiencing with delivery of mail at the local level.
Siegel noted that there are hundreds of posts on various social media outlets about problems local residents are having with their mail delivery, performance of their letter carriers and communication with the post office.
“I did not say all letter carriers, but we all know it only takes a few bad apples to spoil the bunch,” he said.
The commissioners can speak for the county, and any attention they might give the matter would be appreciated, possibly communication with house speaker Johnny Chastain or district Rep. Andrew Clyde, Siegel noted.
Several local residents who responded to our Facebook post said they’ve not had any recent mail delivery issues whatsoever.
“I’ve had zero problems with my mail or any others. Always on time, but that’s not the case with a lot of folks here in Gilmer,” commented Sherry Fox Allen.
Atlanta is among five service areas where the switch to LTO mail handling has been implemented. The postal service plans to aggressively roll out the program nationwide throughout 2024, noted the postal worker’s union.