ST. PAUL - Perhaps one of the more noticeable and historic landmarks along St. Paul's main street, the post office stands out with its brick exterior and cement stairs with adjoining ramp.
The stairs leading into the busy post office have caused concern for at least one local resident lately, who believes they are a concern - and obstacle - for many others.
Edward Zielinski says when he visited the post office on Thursday, he nearly tripped and fell. He noted there was gravel littered all over the stairs, and it was easy to lose footing.
He noted that it doesn't matter a person's age or mobility, the stairs present a real safety concern.
“There’s a lot of ways we can address this," says Zielinski, who noted that he's worked in an industry where safety is always a priority
He questioned where the pride was in caring for the federally-owned building, and even went as far as saying he would volunteer himself to sweep the gravel from the stairs.
Lakeland Today reached out to Canada Post for comment on the safety concerns being expressed.
In an emailed response, Phil Legault, media relations with Canada Post said, "We have been monitoring the state of the entrance to the St. Paul Post Office, with employees reporting any repair needs."
He noted that the health and safety of employees and customers is a "top priority."
"Recognizing this is a high traffic area to enter the post office, a work order is in place to repair this weather-related damage as soon as possible. We are looking at a solution that will resist weather, particularly the damaging effects of freezing and thawing," further explained Legault.
He also noted that while Canada Post appreciates the offer from Zielinski to clean up the stairs, customers are directed to report any immediate issues to the employees inside the post office.
Customers who have experience issues with postal services - such as accessing the post office or mail delivery - can contact Canada Post's customer service team online at canadapost.ca/support or by telephone at 1-866-607-6301 (TTY: 1-800-267-2797).
