Gordon Post Office Saved From Closure With Signing Of New Lease

They say that a post office is a vital lifeline to a community.  This is especially true for a small town.  While mail delivery service is one of its important roles, an operating post office is also necessary for many other services provided by government - from the local level all the way to the federal government. Everything from passports to absentee ballots, census detail to emergency supplies following a disaster get routed through and count on the foundation that an active post office (and zip code) provide.

That's why communities fight so hard to maintain an open post office when they're in danger of being closed.

Recently, the post office in Gordon, Wisconsin found itself in that situation, when the lease for the building it was operating out of came up and negotiations stalled. A deadline of November 9 fast approached, and a closure would have left the Town of Gordon and the Town of Wascott without a post office of their own.

The re-up for the lease was community driven.  An outdoors public rally happened on October 20, and Gordon residents also blanketed the United States Postal Service with phone calls and comments.  According to details in the Superior Telegram [paywall], there was even a petition that "garnered more signatures that[sic] the town's population".

There was also a bipartisan effort with lawmakers speaking up and coming to the defense of the Gordon Post Office. According to Brian Finstad - one of the community organizers:

"Behind the scenes we were hitting them at every level from every angle.  Decision makers as far away as Denver were following our rally in the news online.  The Senators and Congressman's offices in Washington D.C. were all aware of it.  A consumer complaints representative in Milwaukee told me they had never seen anything like this from such a small town."

The signing of the new lease rests the question about whether or not the community will have an active, open Post Office.  This new lease "is good for five years and is transferable to any new owners".  It will auto renew in five year increments for the future.