The U.S. Postal Service has announced its office at the Orchards Mall in Benton Township is now closed permanently while it conducts a feasibility study for the location.
The Postal Service suspended operations at the mall in 2023, saying the move was made to protect the health of staff and customers.
Benton Township Supervisor Cathy Yates tells us the service later announced plans to open a new location off Mall Drive, near the Michigan Secretary of State’s office, but now it’s telling customers that they can conduct their business at the Benton Harbor location and there’s been no additional word about Mall Drive. Yates says going to the Benton Harbor office poses a hardship for many township residents.
“We just want them to reconsider what their move is and make sure that they can put it back where they planned in the Secretary of State building, someplace on that venue, and we’ll be happy with that.”
Yates says the decision by the Postal Service came as a surprise to township leaders.
“They’re not really easy to talk to because we’ve had some other issues. They should have reached out to the township, really, because this is a big move in our community and they’ve not even thought about contacting us.”
Yates says the Postal Service is trying to get everyone to do more online, but many residents — especially older ones — can’t do that. She suggests a compromise, perhaps keeping a Post Office location in the township with only basic mail services and without certain other features.
The Postal Service has scheduled a virtual meeting for the public to learn more about what’s happening, and Yates hopes residents attend and voice their concerns. The Zoom meeting will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15. You can sign up right here. Otherwise, the meeting ID is 165-416-8219.
