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New post office for Big Cove area a federal decision, councilman says

A Huntsville city councilmember says public concerns are valid, but a solution may be out of their hands.

OWENS CROSS ROADS, Ala. — A group of concerned citizens say their neighborhood post office is literally overflowing with the amount of packages it must deliver. They believe the solution is a larger facility, if not another office altogether, along with more personnel to handle the influx of mail and packages.

"One day I went down to the post office and I was no place to park," recalled Carol Cadenhead. "I was extremely surprised that the employees were out in the parking lot working. And I just kept my eye on it. And they worked in the rain. They worked in some sleet and snow. I think a lot of employees might have left because they didn't like the circumstances. So when I started investigating, it was evident it was too small a post office for this area."

Cadenhead documented her visit in a series of photos and videos she shared with FOX54. Last week, Cadenhead and other members of a group called Cove Area Citizens Action Group held a town hall, in which they voiced their concerns to a representative from Rep. Dale Strong's office, as well as City of Huntsville Councilman David Little and Madison County District 3 Commissioner Craig Hill.

Councilman Little said he is in full support of the group's demand - but says the ultimate decision isn't up to him, nor anyone at the municipal level.

"Ultimately it's a federal decision on federal funding," Little said. 

Rep. Strong is also doing his part to see change in the area, Little added. "My understanding is that Dale Strong's office has already written a letter to the postmaster, so that's good sign."

The CACAG cites the local postmaster as saying the Owens Cross Roads post office sees thousands of packages on any given weekday, with about 2,500 more coming in on weekends.

U.S. Census Bureau data shows the population of the area served by the post office is just shy of 22,000.

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