'Unreliable' Mail Service In La Grange Area

LA GRANGE PARK, IL — As of Thursday, La Grange Park resident Megann Krysa has had mail sitting in her mailbox waiting to be delivered for six days. No postal carrier has apparently come by in that time.

Krysa, who lives on Community Drive, said her parents who live six blocks away and neighbors have experienced similar issues with the post office for the last few months. The mail problems in the La Grange area have even become the subject of a discussion on Facebook involving dozens of commenters.

"It's becoming an unreliable service," Krysa said in an interview.

She said she struggled to get any answer from the post office. So she turned to Patch to look into it.

On Thursday morning, Patch emailed an area spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service, who provided an answer soon afterward.

The local problem is with the La Grange Post Office, which handles mail for La Grange and La Grange Park, said Sharrie Johnson, the spokeswoman.

"We apologize for the disruption in service at the LaGrange Post Office," Johnson said. "We have experienced staff shortages at this location and are currently using available resources to match the workload created by the impacts of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic."

Johnson said the post office is bringing "extra resources" to the La Grange area and that local mail delivery is "ongoing."

She also said the recent snow has challenged postal carriers, saying residents should clear the ice and snow in the approaches to their mailboxes.

Told about the post office's response, Krysa questioned the lack of personnel.

"Are they really saying that with 743,000 people on unemployment benefits and even more out of work nationwide, there is a lack of desire for employment through the Postal Service," Krysa said in an email. "Are there no other remedies? Train in smaller groups, split routes, so that those who are working aren't over-exhausted. This isn't just because of COVID. There just has to be a better solution."