Postal Service has yet to react to municipalities' plea for new mail routes

Although more than three months have passed since Rutherford College first raised the issue of needing its own dedicated mail route, the U.S. Postal Service has yet to respond to the municipality’s request.

Noting that folks wanting home mail delivery within the town limits must use either a Connelly Springs or a Valdese mailing address, the Town Council in early January passed a resolution seeking a change.

After learning of Rutherford College’s initiative, the governing boards of Drexel and Glen Alpine took similar action, with both passing resolutions asking for dedicated mail routes in their municipalities also.

Residents within the town limits of both Drexel and Glen Alpine must use a Morganton address to receive home delivery of mail.

Since then, all three towns have passed a joint resolution asking the Postal Service to make a change. Copies of the resolutions were passed on to U.S. Rep. Tim Moore.

Moore followed up with a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner in early January.

“We’ve heard nothing from the Postal Service so far,” said Rutherford College Town Manager Jessica Bargsley. “We have made U.S. Sen. Ted Budd’s office aware of the situation also.”

Attempts by The Paper to reach Moore’s office for an update on the situation were unsuccessful.

The Rutherford College Town Council reiterated its support for changing the mail system in the town at its regular monthly meeting on Monday night at Town Hall.

Faced with a light agenda, the council also gave its support to a resolution opposing Charlotte’s request to draw an additional 30 million gallons of water a day from the Catawba River basin.

“For Rutherford College and neighboring communities, Charlotte’s proposed increase would not only threaten future growth,” the resolution read, “but also place an undue burden on our residents and businesses.”

The Council will meet again on Monday, May 4, at 7 p.m. and will hold a budget workshop on Monday, May 18, at 6 p.m.

Finally, the town’s annual Founders’ Day Festival will be held on Saturday, May 16, in the Town Hall parking lot and the adjacent Greenway Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.