Monday, December 16, 2013

RESIDENTS REJECT PROPOSED ZIP CODE CHANGE



By Staff writer
Von ormy—A request by the City of Somerset to transfer a large portion of the Von ormy zipcode (78073) to Somerset (78069) failed following a survey of postal customers failed to gather the required support.
     Somerset City Council made the request this summer as part of its comprehensive master plan. The request included all parts of Von ormy east of Benton City Rd. The United State Postal Service told the Star “such requests are not common, but we do have a process to evaluate such requests.” 
   The process involves a cost evaluation and customer survey.     Some 2053 surveys were mailed to postal customers with Von ormy addresses, whose addresses were subject to change under the proposed plan.   378 surveys were returned to the USPS.  The result of the customer survey, which concluded December 1, 2013, was 69% opposed and 31% in favor. 
   The failure of postal customer support effectively ended the proposal, which needed a majority in favor to move forward. 
   There was much at stake in the zipcode struggle.  Postal routes for Somerset addresses were transferred to the Von ormy Post office last summer as part of postal consolidation efforts.  Long term projections suggest that additional consolidations are likely in the future. 
   Von ormy residents in the Savannah Heights subdivision organized community opposition to the effort.  The City of Von ormy also weighted in with a unanimous resolution in opposition to the measure.
    Von ormy Art Martinez de Vara told the Star, “one of the main concerns we received from residents was the cost such a change would have on businesses and residents who would have had to readdress, change advertising, signage, business cards, etc.   I also believe a large factor in the opposition was community pride. Von ormians are proud to be from Von ormy, just like Somerseters are proud to be from Somerset.  When you suggest changing that, it stirs emotions.”
    USPS said that residents will receive notices of the outcome of the survey in early December.  Further zip code change proposals are not likely anytime soon, as the City of Somerset is barred from making another request for a zip code change for another 10 years.

   

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