Independence post office must be addressed

A recent Bulletin Journal article covered Gov. Kim Reynold's visit to Independence. Attending, according to the article, were the mayor, city manager, Chamber of Commerce, Buchanan County Economic Development, Board of Supervisors, council members and others of our community. The topic was the refurbishing of the Leytze building project. This is fine and good, but was that the only topic of conversation?

Did anyone in this group of leaders happen to draw attention to the handicap accessibility of the Independence United States Post Office to the governor? We are a county seat with many elderly and handicapped individuals and others who have difficulty climbing the steps to do business at the post office. The motto is "Shop Locally" except for your postal needs. We have witnessed the tuckpointing of the post office, window refurbishing, safety bars repainted, interior painting, etc. but this is not considered "remodeling" in the eyes of the government.

We are considered "exempt" from handicap accessibility construction under some act passed many years ago. It's simple, change the law! Looks to me like City Hall was able to add a handicap ramp, but to get one at the post office is impossible?

Where are our leaders, state legislators, governor and all federal legislators to allow our post office and others in Iowa to be handicap inaccessible? State legislators it's your job to let the federal government know what Iowa needs

Karen Connell

Independence