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Post office parking slots scrapped Action taken after postal service balks at paying $70,000 Staff Writer The possibility of nine diagonal parking spaces at the Brainerd Post Office is no more.
The Brainerd City Council Monday unanimously rescinded a May 2 motion to go ahead with the project to add the diagonal parking spaces on the east side of the post office in return for a 15-foot right-of-way easement. With the May 2 motion, the city agreed to pay 30 percent, or $25,000, of the estimated $83,000 project cost.
The decision to not go ahead with the project was made after the city received a letter from Brian Marshall, facility requirements specialist with the U.S. Postal Service, stating the postal service wouldn't pay $70,000 toward the project.
Council member Bob Olson said the city council made a mistake in not coming forward with more money for the project and the city could be in danger of losing the post office if the parking problems weren't alleviated.
"To me, it's a crying shame we didn't get together and do a better job of cooperating with the post office," Olson said.
Olson made a motion that the city should pay 75 percent of the $83,000, but the motion wasn't seconded.
Council member Lucy Nesheim said following the completion of the Laurel Street project the Safety and Public Works Committee will further study parking needs within state aid standards.
The post office requested the three temporary parking spaces on the east side of the post office, created during the last week of April, be made permanent. The council took no action on the request.
MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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