Mississippi Gulf News

On December 15, 2023, Congressman Mike Ezell appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability to address the ongoing issues with the Poplarville Post Office in Mississippi's Fourth Congressional District. During his testimony, Congressman Ezell expressed his frustration and concern over the lack of progress in resolving the situation.

The problems with the Poplarville Post Office began 708 days ago when the roof of the building collapsed due to termite damage. Since then, the residents of Poplarville have been without a permanent post office. Congressman Ezell highlighted the challenges faced by his constituents, stating, "For 708 days, the residents of Poplarville Mississippi have been without a permanent post office."

To temporarily address the situation, the United States Postal Service set up two mobile vans at the bottom of the hill. However, these vans are essentially inaccessible to most of the population, and postal workers have been working in substandard conditions, including no restroom and a broken air conditioner amidst the Mississippi summer heat. Congressman Ezell emphasized the hardships faced by the community, stating, "Just today, I received information that the heater in the truck died, forcing postal workers to work without heat. It was 31 degrees this morning in Poplarville, Mississippi, and several of the senior citizens fell walking up the hill trying to get to the mail."

Despite assurances that this would be a short-term situation, the temporary trucks are still in use, and there has been a lack of communication and updates from the post office. Congressman Ezell expressed his disappointment, saying, "I must have a different definition of short-term, because temporary trucks are still in use... Yet I sit here today with still no information as to when a permanent adequate building will be ready, and have not been granted a single meeting request."

During his visit to Poplarville, Congressman Ezell witnessed the deplorable conditions firsthand, which were exacerbated by rain on that particular day. He urged the committee to take action and implement guidelines for similar situations, including mandating the United States Postal Service to communicate with local leaders and ensuring a solution is reached within 180 days of determining that an old post office is no longer usable. Congressman Ezell stated, "The residents of Poplarville deserve better than this."

In conclusion, Congressman Mike Ezell's testimony shed light on the ongoing issues with the Poplarville Post Office and the struggles faced by the community. The lack of progress in finding a permanent solution and the inadequate temporary arrangements have caused significant hardships for the residents. Congressman Ezell called on the committee to address this situation and ensure that guidelines are implemented to prevent similar challenges in the future.