Hastert helps secure funds for new post office in Yorkville

YORKVILLE -- U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert announced Thursday that Yorkville is in line to get a larger post office facility to handle the city's rapidly growing population."We're very excited about it," Yorkville Postmaster Irene Windett said. "We've needed it for a long time."

Windett said Thursday's announcement from the Speaker of the House begins a methodical process of gathering public input, selecting a possible location and working with local officials.

"There's a lot of administrative work ahead," she said. The U.S. Postal Service hopes to begin construction on the new building by the end of 2004.Gerry McKiernan, public relations manager for the Postal Service, said representatives will meet with city officials within the next several weeks to begin discussions.

Postal officials could not say if the new post office would be at the current Hydraulic Avenue address or at another location.

The Postal Service considers a number of factors in selecting its sites, including zoning, traffic flow and environmental issues, McKiernan said.

"It's going to be about a year before you start seeing something," he said.

The city's current post office was built in 1969, when Yorkville's population was about 2,000 residents. The 2000 census put the city's population at 6,189.

The city is in the process of conducting a special census that officials expect will show nearly 8,000 residents. That number is expected to increase to more than 20,000 by 2010.

The post office on Hydraulic Avenue west of downtown has about 2,500 square feet of space in the building and a limited number of parking spaces.

Mayor Art Prochaska said Thursday's announcement is good for the city.

"With all of the growth we've had, the post office has been under a great deal of pressure," Prochaska said.

The mayor said the city does not have a specific area in mind for a new location.

Prochaska said city leaders were pleasantly surprised by the announcement because they believed the city was not on a waiting list for a new post office.

"It's good to know that not only are we on the list, we're actually going to get a new post office," Prochaska said. "It's definitely a plus for the community."

Hastert supported the application for a new facility, citing projected growth in the community and space limitations at the existing building.

Hastert, who resides in Little Rock Township but maintains strong ties to the city, is a former teacher at Yorkville High School.

"Yorkville is growing rapidly, and there is tremendous need for a new facility that will make mail service more efficient," Hastert said in a statement. "Working with local leaders, the Postal Service plans to create a building that will serve the community for years to come."