The move comes after the drop box had been in the Post Office parking lot for more than 30 years and after a postal employee was hit twice by cars driving through the lot. According to Post Office manager Bill Schnabel, 2 postal vehicles were also hit by cars driving through the lot.
Schnabel also said drivers frequently drove into the lot the wrong way and attempt to turn around to drop mail. And, he's seen drivers who aren't dropping off mail cut the through the lot just so they don't need to drive all the way around the block.
Schnabel pointed out that most Post Office lots are fenced, but he doesn't think, considering the current economic climate, that the Postal Service will move to fence it, too.
When the Post Office went to the city to request a location for a drop box, the location on the south side of Fifth St., in the middle of the block, was their suggestion, according to Schnabel.
There's another drop box in the Safeway parking lot and the Post Office has other drop boxes around town.