City to install new mailbox, considers nixing PO box

The Gainesville City Council discussed installing a mailbox after the Gainesville Post Office recently began enforcing a rule that prevents post office box customers from receiving packages at the post office when those packages are addressed to a physical address.

An issue with that arises because many online retailers will not accept a post office box as a shipping address. In the past, the post office allowed customers to have packages addressed to their physical address delivered to the post office for pickup. However, the post office is now enforcing a requirement that if a package is addressed to a physical address, a mailbox must be installed at that location.

Council members discussed the situation and agreed that if the city is required to purchase and install a mailbox, it makes sense to transition away from relying on the post office box for mail delivery. The council decided to keep the post office box temporarily while purchasing and installing a locking mailbox. Members voted to approve a budget of up to $400 for the project.

City Clerk Lisa Goodnight said she would contact the post office to determine where the mailbox would need to be installed. She noted that one possible location could be the city-owned parking lot on Fourth Street, one block north of City Hall.