Bainbridge Resident Asks for Post Office
When Bainbridge Township Trustees attend the annual Ohio Township Association conference in Columbus this week, they plan to confer with their Auburn Township counterparts about the possibility of working together to get a post office somewhere in the 44023 ZIP code, which the two townships share.
Currently, the ZIP code is served by the Chagrin Falls Post Office, 44022, which is located in Cuyahoga County. The Bainbridge branch closed several years ago when the post office lost its lease on its facility on Washington Street. A clothing store now occupies that building.
Residents have complained about slow service, long lines and lack of parking at the Chagrin Falls facility. Monday night, Bainbridge trustees discussed a letter they had received this week from Pilgrim Village resident Duane Fredric.
When trustees read Fredric’s letter requesting that a post office be re-established for 44023, resident Gil Myers said, “Amen!”
Trustee Jeff Markley called the current Chagrin Falls facility “the worst post office in the country.”
“It’s unbelievable. The mail couldn’t be any slower,” Markley said, adding it recently took a check four weeks to reach him.
“Mr. Fredric recommended that we confer with Auburn trustees,” Trustee Lorrie Sass Benza said.
Several years ago, Auburn Township Trustees worked with the late U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette (R, Chagrin Falls) to pass legislation establishing one ZIP code, 44023, for the township.
Trustee John Eberly, frustrated the township was served by five ZIP codes in two counties, led that effort.
The Bainbridge trustees said they were enthusiastic about the idea of having a separate post office for the two townships.
“When we go to Columbus, we’ll talk to the Auburn trustees and we’ll probably get in touch with Congressman (David) Joyce,” Benza said.
Myers said the Bainbridge commercial areas have several existing buildings that are vacant and would serve the purpose.
Reached later, Fredric said a visit to the Chagrin Falls Post Office during the holidays convinced him that changes are needed.
“It was a disaster,” Fredric said. “The parking lot is very limited and it’s very hard to find a parking space. That day, once I found a place to park, the line went all the way out the door. Some people were on their lunch hour or on their way to work, and many of them said they couldn’t wait any longer and left.”
Fredric said he uses other post offices as much as possible, where the lines are shorter and the parking is adequate.
“I’m sure the people who live in Chagrin Falls are frustrated about this, too, since all of us are crowding theirs,” he said. “I’m just trying to look out for myself and my neighbors, many of whom are elderly. I want to be a good neighbor, so I wrote to the trustees and to Congressman Joyce, but I haven’t heard back from him.”
“It’s about time he did something,” Fredric added. “The need is really urgent.”
