Good news came to those in Rico late Tuesday when they learned that the Rico Post Office was no longer on the chopping block.
Word came that after a months-long period in which the Rico Post Office was being considered for closure, that the move just didnt make sense.
We looked at a number of factors: the distance, how far away the Rico Post Office is from other post offices, how far away it is from other services and community input, said David Rupert, a Postal Service spokesman.
Rico is a good 40-minute drive from the closest post office in Dolores. That was simply too far to drive, community residents stated at the community meeting held in early October regarding the post office closure.
It just didnt make sense, Rupert said.
The proposal, currently, calls for everything at the Rico Post Office to remain the same, including having staff at the office that sell stamps and help with other shipping and post office needs.
For now, things are going to stay the way they are, Rupert said.
The past two months have been a roller coaster ride for Rico residents after learning that their post office was under a discontinuance study.
Rico residents learned in early October in a letter that the Postal Service was suggesting that the post office be closed completely. During a public meeting in Rico, Oct. 5, residents then learned that the mail delivery would likely stay in Rico, but the actual office could be closed and mail would be delivered in cluster boxes. In early November, a recommendation came down from the Postal Service suggesting that the mail delivery continue at the current post office location, but the personnel in that location be eliminated, meaning residents would have to drive elsewhere to handle shipping requests.
But all those recommendations have been thrown off the table and Rico customers can expect the post office to stay the same, with a post master to help with all their shipping needs.
Businesses in Rico were adamant that if the post master in Rico was eliminated, then they would likely have to move their businesses elsewhere.
Rupert said there just wasnt anywhere else residents could go in a short enough distance to take care of such mailing needs.
But, Rupert pointed out, the Postal Service is still hurting financially and nothing is set in stone.
We are going through a lot of difficult times, so things will stay the way they are in Rico for the time being, he said.
Other Colorado post offices off the chopping block announced on Tuesday, were: Pitkin, Sargent, Maybell and Branson.
