Exterior shots of the Herman Post Office in Summit Township, which has been closed since mid-April 2024 due to flooding damage. William Pitts/Butler Eagle

Just two weeks after residents of Summit Township expressed ire at the continued closure of Herman Post Office, the township’s supervisors and secretary have pursued multiple angles to bring back mailing options.

Secretary Roxann Stickney said at the Wednesday, May 21, board of supervisors meeting that since last meeting, she has had discussions with Butler County Commissioner Kim Geyer, the leasing department for the U.S. Postal Service and the USPS regional director’s office about the issue. Each avenue may have its own unique solution, but nothing has materialized thus far.

In April 2024, the Herman Post Office on Geibel Road put a notice on its front door announcing that it would remain closed for the foreseeable future due to flooding from a recent storm. Thirteen months later, the post office has yet to reopen its doors.

Stickney said her conversation with Geyer led to Geyer penning a letter to U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, D-Pa. As far as she knew, that letter has yet to receive a response.

Stickney and the board were also made aware the property’s landlord, Anthony Schnur, doesn’t plan to renew the lease with the Postal Service. She forwarded this information to a representative of the Postal Service’s leasing department.

“He said that what we need is the landlord needs to submit a letter to the Postal Service stating he’s not going to renew the lease,” Stickney said.

The representative did pass along the idea of using space in Herman Volunteer Fire Company to the planning department, she said. No updates were available from the planning department at the time of the meeting.

As for the Pittsburgh regional office, Stickney said they spoke with the Butler postmaster and that the installation of a cluster mailbox may serve as a temporary solution. However, before it could be installed, the Postal Service wants to do a site visit.

“We’re just a little tiny community, and I feel like we’re being forgotten about, because we’re so small in the big scheme of things,” she said. “It’s not right.”

Stickney said she doesn’t plan to give up until postal service is returned to Summit Township, and will be continually pursuing every possible angle.

“We were told that it takes an act of Congress to close a post office,” Supervisor Richard Green said. “The gentleman is in breach of contract if he’s not maintaining the building.”