Sherburne County commissioners ask staff to press USPS to keep Big Lake and Becker post offices in county

Sherburne County commissioners on Tuesday discussed the U.S. Postal Service’s possible consolidation of local operations and asked staff to draft a formal letter pressing USPS to maintain accessible postal service in Sherburne County.

The discussion focused on news that operations from Big Lake and Becker could be moved to Monticello, a change commissioners said would lengthen travel times for many residents. “If you're sitting in Big Lake and you gotta run over to the post office box to pick something up … you cross that bridge certain times of the day, it's a half an hour to get back across,” one commissioner said, describing typical traffic delays.

Nut graf: Commissioners and county staff said they and area legislators have not received clear information from USPS about relocation plans and want the county’s concerns on record. They asked staff to prepare a letter advocating that any consolidation preserve local access — ideally keeping facilities in their current cities or at least inside Sherburne County.

Assistant county administrator Bruce Meselt, participating remotely, told the board he would draft a letter for the chair’s signature and work with county staff. “With the board's direction, I can put together a letter. I'll work with Hannah and Greg on that and have it ready for the board chair's signature, if that's what you'd like to do,” he said.

Commissioners noted that ZIP codes would remain the same but that consolidating routes and P.O. box pickup into Monticello could overload the Monticello facility and add travel time for residents. Commissioners said they had sought information through Congressional offices but received limited responses from USPS field staff.

Ending: The board gave staff direction to draft the letter and return it for the chair’s signature; staff will coordinate with local chambers, legislators and the county’s legislative contacts as they finalize the request.