PALMETTO, Ga. — Over the last three weeks, 11Alive has heard from dozens of concerned residents about missing mail and packages connected to a new United States Postal Service processing center that opened not too long ago in Palmetto.
That has trickled down to one Marietta woman, Savanna Acree, who said she hasn't been paid in weeks because she gets her checks through the mail.
"I’ve been getting paid through the mail for two years now, and as soon as I moved here, the issue just started happening," Acree said. "I’m just not getting my mail, and I went to my local USPS and the manager there told me that it’s connected with the things going on at the Palmetto plant."
The new center opened on Feb. 24, as some of the operations at the Atlanta, Augusta, Macon and Duluth area processing and distribution centers shifted to the regional center in Palmetto.
The move was part of the postal service's 10-year plan called "Delivering for America," which was introduced in 2021 with the goal of expediting service across the country and helping USPS save money.
A week after the center opened, 11Alive started getting complaints on March 2. Those complaints have substantially increased since then.
Information on USPS’s website shows on March 11 an audit was initiated at the Palmetto center.
When we asked the inspector general’s office about it, a spokesperson told us “it was initiated part of its ongoing and comprehensive oversight..” and “will aim to determine the full causes of any issues we might identify.”
She added the estimated final issuance of that report is August.
11Alive spoke with Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is launching his own inquiry into the matter.
"When I hear from my constituents that they’re having issues with the postal service, that impact family, safety, and security, or just the orderly delivery of mail necessary for quality of life and commerce, I take action," Ossoff said.
Ossoff said he reached out to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for detailed answers, but for folks like Savanna and her boyfriend Dillon, who just moved into their first apartment together, they explained that they need more than answers.
"It’s been going on a month that I haven’t gotten paid," Acree said. "It’s been so much pressure, so I’ve been relying on his savings, relying on his paycheck -- it’s definitely putting a strain on us, putting a strain on us moving in together, and it’s just been a nightmare."
On Saturday, Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pits said he's never experienced anything like what he's heard is happening in Palmetto.
“If the guy who represents the unions and the employees is correct and there’s some personnel moves that were made that have contributed to this problem, that needs to be addressed," Pitts said.
Pitts said he plans to work with federal lawmakers to remedy this situation because what people need via the mail is a lifeline for his constituents.
“Mail that comes to an individual could be a social security check, a business’s new order, or whatever," Pitts said. "So it's impacting people and businesses, and something needs to be done.”
Pitts said he’s already contacted Sen. Ossoff and plans to meet with him soon. In the meantime, he’s hoping the delays with the mail don’t hurt county operations in Fulton.
“People who have mailed in their taxes would be held up, and we would be sympathetic if it's due to that," Pitts said. "This could impact our operations to the extent of people who use the mail to communicate with us.
Those experiencing delays or who have not received mail can contact the newsroom with your concerns as we continue to cover this story. Fill out our online form below, and someone from our news team will follow up with you.