12/10/2020 According to many locals, the Estes Park Post Office (EPPO) has had a history of long lines and slower than average service. Now, the logistical problems stemming from COVID-19 and wildfire evacuations have forced the EPPO to reduce its operating hours at a season when the United States Postal Service is counted on the most.
Cluster boxes at the Este Park Post Office are sometimes left completely open.
“We do have employee availability issues due to the impacts of COVID-19 which have reduced our hours to 12 – 5 p.m. We are flexing our resources and working to restore normal business hours,” said USPS Strategic Communications Executive James Boxrud. “Like any other business, we are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and working with occupational health professionals to minimize and mitigate the impact on our employees and customers.”
On Nov. 2, the post office announced that Estes Park, Drake and Glen Haven mail returned to the EPPO and mail would no longer be available at the Loveland Valentine Station where it was being kept during the evacuations.
Since then, a crushing surge of COVID has hit Larimer County and Estes Park, resulting in the employees that EPPO does have taking leaves of absence.
As far as when customers in and around Estes Park can expect a return to normal operations, USPS is not ready to say. The process for hiring federal employees in lengthy and includes a background check and drug screening. USPS says during COVID the process is taking longer than normal but help is on the way to the EPPO.
“There are a few new hires that are in our system that will be on board soon and the Colorado District office is working to find additional employees to send up to Estes for some relief,” said Boxrud.