A community in Columbia County has a new fee for anyone who installs a mailbox near their home.
Most people in Benton used to receive their mail in a post office box for free. That was an oversight and the post office recently told residents they, like other post office box customers, will have to pay a $40 fee to keep their boxes. Some decided to put up a mailbox in front of their homes instead but a new borough ordinance requires these resident to pay for a $75 permit fee.
"The fee is not meant to be punitive but it's meant to cover the cost of the time of the inspector to do all this. Taxpayers shouldn't have to be burdened with individuals expenses on that," said Jan Jankowski.
Officials from the post office said if you live along the mail carrier's rural route, like on Market and Main streets, you can receive your mail at home with a mailbox. Members of the borough council said they want those mailboxes to be safe and sound. That's why they need to be inspected first.
"We've had new sidewalks poured there and we want to make sure that any post office boxes are correctly installed and to meeting PennDOT regulations as well as the post office regulations," added Jankowski.
Some residents don't agree with the new ordinance.
"The new $75 zoning permit is ridiculous. We already pay with our tax dollars a zoning officer to make sure everything in the borough is as it should be. Why should we employ him to check a mail box and then $75 and where is that $75 dollars going," asked Patty Record.
Those who put up their mailbox before the ordinance was passed don't have to pay the $75 fee.
A representative from the U.S. Postal Service in Harrisburg said their legal team is looking into the mailbox fee to see if its legal.
Most people in Benton used to receive their mail in a post office box for free. That was an oversight and the post office recently told residents they, like other post office box customers, will have to pay a $40 fee to keep their boxes. Some decided to put up a mailbox in front of their homes instead but a new borough ordinance requires these resident to pay for a $75 permit fee.
"The fee is not meant to be punitive but it's meant to cover the cost of the time of the inspector to do all this. Taxpayers shouldn't have to be burdened with individuals expenses on that," said Jan Jankowski.
Officials from the post office said if you live along the mail carrier's rural route, like on Market and Main streets, you can receive your mail at home with a mailbox. Members of the borough council said they want those mailboxes to be safe and sound. That's why they need to be inspected first.
"We've had new sidewalks poured there and we want to make sure that any post office boxes are correctly installed and to meeting PennDOT regulations as well as the post office regulations," added Jankowski.
Some residents don't agree with the new ordinance.
"The new $75 zoning permit is ridiculous. We already pay with our tax dollars a zoning officer to make sure everything in the borough is as it should be. Why should we employ him to check a mail box and then $75 and where is that $75 dollars going," asked Patty Record.
Those who put up their mailbox before the ordinance was passed don't have to pay the $75 fee.
A representative from the U.S. Postal Service in Harrisburg said their legal team is looking into the mailbox fee to see if its legal.
