NEW KENT — Ongoing issues with the U.S. Postal Service continue to affect New Kent County residents, U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman told the Board of Supervisors recently.
During an update to the board on Aug. 12, Wittman addressed several issues from delays with the Interstate 64 widening to getting large agricultural vehicles off secondary roads in New Kent.
Wittman said the Virginia delegation continues to meet regularly with the postmaster general on the mail issue. “The Richmond processing and distribution center still is having significant problems,” he said.
He stressed the importance of speeding up deliveries before postal ballots are mailed in for the November general election. “We want to make sure that anyone who mails their ballot in gets to the registrar here in New Kent quickly,” Wittman said.
“There are still challenges that they have moving forward,” he added. “They are doing better at delivering first class mail on time but they are still, I hear on a daily basis, issues where people have delays in getting medication, delays in their checks showing up to people that they owe money to or the businesses are waiting for checks, or people are waiting for social security benefits.”
Wittman said the delays are still having major impacts on people’s lives. “We are going to continue to push the post office to do what they are supposed to do and make things better.”
Wittman said the Richmond Processing and Distribution Center in Sandston was highlighted as the third worst in the United States.
A USPS report released in the spring found that the postal service faced “serious challenges” when it consolidated its operations at Sandston in Henrico, causing service and labor costs to rise and service performance levels to drop. The report found the facility failed to address staffing issues including high management turnover.
Wittman also brought up delays to the I-64 widening in New Kent, which apparently was caused “due to protections for the northern long-eared bat,” he said. A January 2023 report from the Virginia Department of Transportation indicated that the presence of the bat, which is listed as endangered, could cause delays in clearing the trees in the media.
The work has since restarted, Wittman said.
David Macaulay, Davidmacaulayva@gmail.com
