Mail delays leave Topeka resident upset in wake of blizzard

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Some residents in northeast Kansas are airing their frustrations this week over their empty mailboxes following a major winter snowstorm.

27 News first reached out to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on Monday, Jan. 13 for an update on where things stand in the wake of a blizzard that blanketed much of the state with snow last week. USPS deliveries have been delayed due to the winter weather, with agency officials telling 27 News last week that mail carriers were making their best efforts to reach mailboxes.

Tara Jarrett, a spokeswoman for the USPS, gave a statement on behalf of the agency to 27 News on Jan. 14. The statement mirrors earlier press releases from the USPS which ask residents to clear away snow and ice from their homes to help mail carriers make their deliveries in a timely manner.

"Please help us by clearing a pathway large enough to allow our vehicles access to the mailbox and to drive away, safely. Customers receiving curbside delivery should remove snow piles left by snowplows to keep access to their mailboxes clear for letter carriers. Customers receiving door delivery should make sure their sidewalks, steps and porches are clear. The Postal Service curtails delivery only after careful consideration, and only as a last resort. Any curtailed mail is attempted the next delivery day."

USPS statement excerpt

The USPS does have a service alert on its website for multiple states, including Kansas, in the wake of winter storms Blair and Cora. People are asked to allow for additional time for the agency to complete deliveries here due to the scale of the severe weather events and how they have impacted the USPS's ability to process, transport and deliver mail and packages to their destinations.

Topeka resident Steve Johnson, who lives in an area of Southwest Topeka on Welton Grove Circle, told 27 News he is frustrated by the current situation and hasn't received any mail since Friday, Jan. 3. He said his fellow neighbors are in a similar position waiting for mail carriers to arrive.

"You don’t see any mail people," Johnson said. "I haven’t seen any mail people since then [Jan. 3]."

Johnson said he understands the recent record snowfall which hit the Topeka area was something that would've been difficult to prepare for and that the USPS can't be completely to blame for the delivery delays. He instead holds the City of Topeka accountable for clearing the roads, especially given that it is now over a week since the blizzard arrived.

"It starts with the City of Topeka," Johnson said. "I can’t blame the USPS for not delivering mail when the streets aren’t clear."

City of Topeka spokesman Dan Garrett said on Jan. 10 that work crews would be moving to clear residential areas of snow in the city. City Manager Robert Perez addressed the issue of snowplows missing some areas as well on Jan. 13.

“If we did, I do want to apologize for any misrepresentations or any misstatements that were put out there,” Perez said on Jan. 13. “But your concerns were heard and as soon as they were brought to our attention, they were prioritized and we addressed them.”

Johnson said he feels the city hasn't been telling the truth about its snow clearing efforts as his area is still feeling the impact of the blizzard. This follows criticism from other local residents on the snow plowing operations conducted by city crews and its contractors.

"I’m only complaining to the extent the city did a lazy job and lied," Johnson said.

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