Pine Hills post office temporarily closed due to 'safety concerns,' USPS says

Stream FOX 35 News:

PINE HILLS, Fla. - A U.S. Post Office branch in Central Florida temporarily suspended operations on Thursday over safety concerns.

According to a USPS representative, effective immediately, the postal facility in Pine Hills on Deauville Drive is suspending operations until further notice. That representative said the temporary shutdown is due to general safety concerns for customers and employees. They said they were unable to elaborate on what those safety concerns are.

Orange County Commissioner Michael Scott represents the area where the post office is located. Scott said he has been frequenting the office for the last 20 years and thinks the safety concerns have to do with the building itself.

"Over the summer I would come here, and it would be hot; the doors would be open, and I’d ask the staff if the A/C is broken. Then, after about the third visit, ‘Hey, what’s going on with the A/C?’ ‘They’re working on it. They’re working on it’ so, it’s frustrating because I’m hot just coming to check my mail – I can’t imagine what it’s like working a potentially 8- or 10-hour shift to have to work in those conditions," Scott said. "It’s been at least six months… probably a year where you’re coming in here and it’s super, super hot. The fans are on… so I just don’t think that’s a good condition to have somebody working in."

Scott said he thinks the building is owned by a private entity, not the federal government, which could be the reason for the upkeep issues. Scott also mentioned he previously filed a complaint regarding shrub overgrowth around the exterior of the post office.

"I’ve seen it happen where you have landlord/tenant issues and maybe the landlord doesn’t want to invest what the tenant needs or requires, and it’s just a back-and-forth thing. Hopefully, it will be resolved, because I don’t want to see this post office close."

According to USPS, customers are encouraged to visit the Hiawassee Post Office located at 3200 N. Hiawassee Road. A Mobile Retail Unit was expected to be set up in the parking lot of the closed branch for retail and post office box services. It will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

USPS said customers can also visit the Hiawassee Post Office at 3200 N. Hiawassee Road. 

FOX 35 News has reached out to USPS for more information.