Village of Evergreen Park issued the following announcement on Feb. 4.
Greetings to you!
It is an unwritten seasonal rule that once we get past the Super Bowl, we are officially heading into the Spring. As I sit here with the outside temperature topping one whole degree, that sounds good about now.
I have a couple of items of good news for you. As you know. . .for now. . the Covid positivity rate is dropping, which has allowed for cautious relaxations of some of the State and County mitigations. As a result, we have been able to take some of our Recreation Department and Youth Department programs off of “pause”. Be sure to check in with them to see what they might have to offer which could be of interest to you.
We still have to continue what we’ve been doing. . .wearing masks, washing hands, doing the best we can to avoid large groups of people. In fact, it’s because we’ve been “behaving” that has led to this very cautious re-opening. Keep it up folks, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s an uphill climb. Keep yourself, your families, and your friends as safe as you can.
It goes without saying that we have had a problem with mail delivery here in the Village for the last month or so. I am happy to report that myself, Trustee/State Rep Kelly Burke, State Senator Bill Cunningham and a representative from Congressman Bobby Rush’s office had a very productive meeting with Ms. Hill (manager of the EP Post Office) and several upper-level USPS staff this past Friday.
They are very contrite and apologetic about what has happened; but no, that does not solve our problems.
Much of the problem is due to Covid absences and vacation time, not just in Evergreen Park. Staffing is short all over the city, and so the Evergreen Park carriers are loaned out to different post offices. The leftover EP postal staff is then doing two or three different routes, which is why one pocket of town will get their mail for a few days, while another pocket gets nothing.
They have promised us that more carriers are being hired within the next two weeks and, following that, are very confident that the situation will be much improved.
The front counter staff at the Post Office is telling people that if they want their mail more immediate, they can come to the post office and show a drivers license or state identification and pick it up. However, be warned that the lines will be long (socially-distanced) and perhaps this isn’t the best weather to be doing that; remember also that parking is at a premium over there any way.
They are aware these are not the fastest solutions, but they are working as quickly as possible to get back to a normal schedule. They, too, would rather not have their skeletal crew carriers out past dark on cold nights.
So I ask you to please continue documenting which days you get mail and don’t, so that we can ask you for that documentation should we need to schedule a follow-up meeting. Hopefully not.
And as frustrated as we are, please do not take it out on your local carriers, who are doing their best in a bad situation.
And lastly, the vaccines are on their way. We continue to ask you to check our website and these email blasts so you can be informed once we have some solid information for you.
As always. . .keep well, keep safe. We have had a multitude of issues for the last year now that have been out of our collective control. However, by sticking together and looking out for each other, we will continue to be the best community around.
I'll be in touch with you again soon!
Mayor James Sexton
Original source can be found here.
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