Clearing snow and ice from mailbox ensures delivery

Mail carriers on Le Mars routes, whether walking or by car, need a clear path to deliver the mail. Snow must be removed from mailboxes such as these for motor carriers to be able to access the box from their vehicle. [Click to enlarge]

If the way to the mailbox, whether by vehicle or by foot, isn't safe, there may not be any mail delivered.

Le Mars Postmaster Dan Kelly has instructed his mail carriers to think safety first.

"Unless the sidewalks are cleaned up to the house, we tell our carriers not to put themselves in a unsafe position," Kelly said.

He admits it's hard for people to get things cleared before they go to work in the morning.

"Still our main focus is to keep our carriers safe," he said.

The Le Mars Post Office serves five rural motor routes (three of which also include some in-town customers), as well as five walking routes in Le Mars.

"There are some residents who do an exceptional job of keeping the snow away from their mailboxes," Kelly said. "It's about 50/50 as far as residents keeping snow and ice away from their mailbox."

Kelly recalls one route inspection he was on where the mail carrier actually drove their vehicle on a huge berm of snow.

"I've instructed the carriers that unless the boxes are cleaned out, for safety purposes, they need to hold the mail," Kelly said.

"Last year was extremely difficult, with the freezing rain right off the bat," Kelly said. "It started out similarly this year, but fortunately it warmed up. Some places, however, are still very slick."

He added, "If you don't see tracks by the mail carrier, you know you have to clear some snow."

Meanwhile, Kelly has praise for area residents who mailed their holiday packages early.

"This area has done a good job with the packages," he said.

"Our volume is down considerably from last year," he added. That also meant there were no lines of people waiting out the door to mail packages.

"We kept three windows open and that helped with mailing packages," Kelly added.

"Now we're seeing the packages coming in and we need to get them out to the customers," he said.

Window hours at the Le Mars Post Office are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays. Mail in post office boxes in the lobby is available by 9 a.m. Monday-Saturday.