Canada Post has given Kitimat a way to get mail delivery going again on Farrow Street, but it's still not a clear cut solution.
Door-to-door mail delivery by Canada Post to Farrow Street has been suspended since November 2012 because of a problem of a dog at large which was reportedly being aggressive to mail carriers.
Kitimat Council has adopted new bylaws which give the town more power to deal with dangerous and at-large dogs, and Canada Post is reportedly pleased with those developments, according to a Kitimat administration report to council.
The last step, however, is for Council to assure there will be suitable land for a community mail box (CMB) if one is needed.
While one won't be installed immediately, Canada Post wants one to be installed should the particular problem dog on Farrow Street become a problem again for mail carriers.
There are two options council will debate. One would have Kitimat agree to installing a permanent CMB which, while coming to no cost to the District, would mean that Farrow Street would never get mail delivery again, even if the dog at some point is assured never to be a problem. (If the dog leaves the neighbourhood, for instance.)
Council may also opt to install a temporary one, which leaves the door open for door-to-door mail delivery again on the street. However the District would take on the cost burden, which, for installation and removal is estimated to be around $10,000.
In the event the council decides not to agree to anything, residents on Farrow Street will likely have to continue picking up their mail at the Canada Post office downtown until Canada Post finds a different solution.
This issue is up for debate at tonight's special meeting of council at 7:30 at the Northwest Community College council chambers.