By Joel van der Veen
June 28, 2010

ELBOW - After weeks of discussion and deliberation, the attempt to revive the Elbow post office has come to an end.

The new community mailboxes installed outside the Civic Centre will likely become a permanent fixture, as Canada Post and local businesses failed to reach an agreement before the deadline of June 21.

However, Kathy Korbo - owner of the Driftwood Studio and Gift Shop, and operator of the Elbow postal counter until its May 31 closure - said she has a new contract with Canada Post, allowing her to offer basic postal services.

"I'm limited in what I can do," she said, adding, "I think it's the best for the situation."

Under the new agreement, Korbo will operate what is called a non-automated postal outlet. She can sell stamps and handle registered mail and incoming parcels. She also plans to obtain a scale, allowing her to receive and weigh outgoing parcels.

Although Elbow residents will still have to venture outside to collect their mail, offering these services in town saves them from having to go to the post office in Loreburn. Korbo said the new outlet will likely be up and running within a week or two.

Mayor David Cross said some local businesses had been negotiating with the corporation in hopes of establishing a full-service postal counter, but were unable to reach a settlement.

Yet, he said, he remains hopeful.

"We're going to go forward and make the best of the situation we've got," he said. "I guess we're confident about our village being a growing village."

Cross also said the village intends to support anyone interested in opening a full postal outlet, should that happen in the future.

John Caines, manager of national media relations for Canada Post in Ottawa, said the corporation hopes it can re-establish such an outlet in Elbow at some point in the future.

Meanwhile, Korbo said the new agreement allows her more time to tend to business in her store, while still giving her a commission on postage sales.

"It's not going to take up a whole lot of time for me," she said, adding that she was still frustrated by the situation that brought her to this point.

"I hated the process," said Korbo. "I'm disappointed that such a business decision could be made."

She added that she was thankful for the support of the community during this time, and that she appreciated their kindness.

The leaderonline is a division of The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada.