By David Vitrano
L’Observateur

EDGARD – The post office in Edgard will be around for at least another five years, thanks to deal that was reached earlier this week between it and Capital One Bank, which owns the building where the post office is housed.

The new agreement was negotiated by St. John the Baptist Parish Councilman Art Smith, who represents the west bank of the parish. The new lease allows the post office to use the space for $1 per year for the next five years.

Smith said the issue had been misconstrued.

“It was never about money,” he said.

That’s something he made the bank prove when he requested the $1 annual rental fee somewhat jokingly, an offer the bank accepted.

He said the issue’s actual origins lie in a request sent by the post office to Capital One regarding the status of its current location. The post office asked for a response by Nov. 30, but the person who handles such requests was out of the office with an illness. Hearing nothing back, the post office assumed its lease was being terminated.

“It was really crazy,” said Smith.

Smith said he also suspects the post office was looking for an easy way to cut costs by eliminating the Edgard Post Office.

The current agreement expires at the end of 2017.

Smith said the closure of the post office would be a nail in the coffin of the west bank community.

“The post office is a focal point,” he said. “The post office is an icon.”

He said the uncertain future of the Edgard/ Reserve ferry further exacerbates the matter because of the high level of poverty in Edgard and surrounding communities.

“We’d be a dying community. We could not afford this to happen,” said Smith, adding, “It affects the whole community. We need to stay on top of this thing.”

The news was announced at a well-attended community meeting at the West Side Volunteer Fire Department Wednesday.

The public was initially informed of the situation through a letter sent out by the post office stating services there would be suspended as of Jan. 1, 2013.