Road commission asks property owners to inspect mailboxes before winter.

Road commission asks property owners to inspect mailboxes before winter.

#Winter!

SCOTTVILLE — The Mason County Road Commission is asking property owners to inspect their mailboxes before winter, making sure they are secure in the ground.

“A mailbox is the only object allowed by law that homeowners can place in the road right-of-way,” said Wayne Schoonover, manager/director of Mason County Road Commission. “Over the years a mailbox post can rot or become wobbly. By grabbing and shaking it, a resident can know if it’s secure. Snow coming off a plow going 35 mph has a surprising amount of force and digging a mailbox out and reinstalling it in frozen ground is difficult.

“Our number one job is to maintain a safe and efficient road and right-of-way system,” Schoonover said. “Responsibility for ensuring a mailbox is strong goes to the resident.”

The Michigan Department of Transportation and the MCRC have policies in place regarding the replacement of mailboxes that have obviously been hit by a snowplow. However, road agencies are not responsible for mailbox damage caused by standard snow removal operations, Schoonover said.

“Residents should prepare mailboxes for winter by tightening screws and ensuring the post and box are secure enough to endure large amounts of snow that is thrown. If the mailbox moves when shaken, the box may need to be repaired or replaced before winter. Damage to posts and receptacles can often be prevented by proper routine maintenance. ”