ATLANTA — The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management is waiving water bill late fees and penalties for both the March and April billing periods.
The department announced the news on social media and said the waiver was due to delivery issues reported by the United States Postal Service.
11Alive has been continuously following these postal problems and has received nonstop overwhelming concerns from people across metro Atlanta who have experienced mail delays over the past few weeks.
Postal customers have said these issues are centered around one postal facility in Palmetto, which is located mainly in Fulton County but also partly in Coweta County.
11Alive reached out to USPS about what is causing the delays but has not received a definitive reason. However, the union president for postal workers, Mitchell Taylor, blamed the issue on the Palmetto facility not properly planning before opening up. He said he believes there will continue to be problems until someone steps in, reassesses and fixes the design. USPS has not confirmed the main reason for the issue.
Regarding other questions about delays with critical mail, the postal service continues to send 11Alive the following statement:
The Postal Service plays an important role in the community, and we are committed to providing the best service possible. While a significant portion of mail and packages in the Atlanta area is being delivered in a timely manner, management is aware of the concerns of some local customers regarding their mail and package delivery and are working quickly to resolve any issues. Operations are improving as we continue to make significant investments in the Atlanta area, including new sorting machines, upgraded facilities and more efficient transportation that will help ensure our organization can provide reliable delivery services for years to come. We sincerely express our apologies to our customers who may have experienced a deviation from our normal, dependable service and appreciate their patience. Customers are reminded that, if they need assistance with mailing or shipping concerns, they have a variety of options for reaching us, including contacting a manager or supervisor at their local Post Office, calling 1-800-ASK-USPS(1-800-275-8777), or visiting our website at www.usps.com.
The delays are not solely centralized to the Palmetto facility, as Virginia has also reported issues. Unfortunately, the USPS did not give a specific timeline for fixing the issues.
Mail recipients with concerns are also encouraged to contact their local post office by calling 1-800-275-8777 or visiting their website here, as mentioned in the statement above.
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.
