By DYLAN McKENZIE

Times Leader Staff Writer

CADIZ — Village residents will have to travel a short distance for post office services, as the Cadiz office suspended operations over the weekend.

The Cadiz branch of the United States Postal Service has been on a rocky path since early summer, when problems with the building prevented customers from entering, instead meeting employees at a side entrance to retrieve letters and send packages.

This was due to the front wall of the building separating from the foundation and sinking into the ground. The wall was braced to help slow the damage, and a geo-technical survey was done to determine the next step in assessing the condition of the building. USPS spokesman David Van Allen said the survey found shifting ground and empty spaces in the earth underneath the office.

This led to further structural damage, with cracks forming throughout the building’s walls and floors.

To ensure the safety of residents and employees, the USPS decided to suspend operations at the post office, effective Saturday.

“It was more than initially supposed,” Van Allen said of the damage, adding that the office only received complete information on the damage last week.

Van Allen said delivery service for residents won’t go through any kind of change.

Customers who need the post office to send and receive letters and packages, as well as other retail services, will need to travel to the office in nearby Jewett. Van Allen said there is currently no timeline to relocate the office within the village of Cadiz, adding that the process takes time.

“These kinds of processes are not done locally; it’s a national program,” Van Allen said, adding that the USPS is currently still dealing with the loss of various offices in the Texas area due to Hurricane Harvey.

“The situation will be evaluated and will be prioritized accordingly.”

Van Allen said the postal service apologizes for any inconvenience the suspension of service will cause to the residents of Cadiz, and the USPS appreciates them understanding the need for the closure, which is for the safety of employees and customers alike.