SPANISH FORT — Officials in Spanish Fort and Washington D.C. are still working to reopen a post office in Spanish Fort more than 19 months after the city's facility closed.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Alabama) recently sent out surveys to Spanish Fort residents asking their opinions about postal service, Mayor Mike McMillan said at a recent city council meeting. The mayor asked residents who did not receive surveys to contact Carl's office at JerryCarl@mail.house.gov.

Zach Weidlich, Carl's communications director, said the congressman is working to restore postal service in Spanish Fort.

"The Spanish Fort Post Office has been a top priority for Congressman Carl since he took office, and he will continue working with the city to address the issue," Weidlich said.

McMillan said he and City Attorney David Connor met recently with federal officials in Washington D.C. He said Spanish Fort is growing and needs a post office. The population of Spanish Fort increased almost 48% between the census counts in 2010 and 2020, going up from 6,798 to 10,049.

"Every day we're growing and that's a good thing," McMillan said.

He said residents also need to report problems with mail service.

"If we get a lot of complaints to the post office about you didn't get your mail," McMillan told residents. "You mailed it, and they didn't get it. It was four hours late. Didn't even come that day. That's what they've got to hear that there's a service issue in our city if we hope to get a post office back in our city. So, we need your help with that. That's what I'm begging you to do."

The Spanish Fort Post Office closed Jan. 15, 2021 after more than 60 years of operation.

Postal Service officials said announced in 2020 that the private vendor contract to operate the Spanish Fort Post Office would expire on Jan. 15, 2021.

Bids on a new contract closed on Dec. 7, but no new contract has been approved. The facility was a contract post office, which is a partnership with a private vendor to provide services to a community.

When no new contract was approved, the post office closed Jan. 15. Since then, Spanish Fort postal patrons have been required to use the Daphne Post Office on Daphne Avenue.