Coram Post Office has new contract

Hungry Horse News

The U.S. Postal Service said it has reached a contract to keep the Coram Post Office open.

Postal Service spokesman David Rupert said a new contract with Coram businessman Gary Paduana was reached late last week to run the post office.

The post office is located in the same building as Spruce Park Appliance.

Its future was in danger after the contract with the previous holder was set to run out at the end of the month.

The Post Office runs under an independent contract, not directly by the U.S. Postal Service, like the facility in Columbia Falls or West Glacier.

“We’re making sure things go smoothly and there’s no disruptions (in mail service),” Rupert said.

Residents began a petition drive to keep the Post Office open after there were reported plans to put in cluster boxes and close the facility.

Rupert claimed the Postal Service reached out to the community to try and find another contractor, but residents repeatedly said that wasn’t true.

Montana Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines both got involved in the situation, asking the Postal Service to keep the facility open.

“Senator Tester knows how important a functioning postal service is to keeping rural America strong, and securing a new contract for the Coram post office is great news for the folks in northwest Montana,” an aide to Tester said Monday.

“The Coram Post Office provides critical services for Montanans, especially our veterans, seniors, and small business owners outside of Glacier. I’m glad to see the USPS swiftly review and approve the contract that will help Coram continue to connect Montanans across our great state,” Daines said Monday.