Politics & Government
Post Office Offers La Grange Park $8,000 to End Lease
Postal officials originally offered $6,000, but village officials said agreement should cover cost of repaving the lot.
The U.S. Postal Service agreed to pay $8,000 to be released from a parking lot agreement with the village of LaGrange Park, The Doings reported this week.
In August, the local branch of the post office offered the village $6,000 to settle a lease on a parking lot at 31st Street and Barnsdale Road they were renting, but no longer needed. Trustees discussed the buyout at an August villlage board workshop meeting, but ended up voting against accepting the $6000 buyout, and asked post office representatives to put their offer in writing. The post office is renting the lot for $291.67 per month, with its terms ending on May 31, 2014. With 33 payments remaining, the post office would be on the hook for $9,625.11.
Julius Hansen, La Grange Park public works director, the asphalt on the lot will need to be replaced once the lease is terminated. The village solicited bids for the work, with the lowest coming back at $7,960.
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During the August meeting Trustee Marshall Seeder suggested that the village offer the post office two options: they could do the repavement of the lot to village specifications, or they could offer an $8,000 buyout to cover the costs.
"We should at least be able to recover our costs," said Jim Discipio, village president. "We're not in the best shape where we can give everyone a break. Either $8,0000 to cover the cost, of they do the project themselves."
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Post office representatives said ending the lease has nothing to do with the chance the . The post office has not used the lot since delivery services were moved to the post office branch in La Grange and are looking to save money, officials said. The La Grange Park office offers post office boxes and retail services.
A public hearing on the possible closing will be held, but public officials have not yet been notified when that will occur.