The Bowmanstown Council meeting kicked off Tuesday with a hearty discussion about postal service.

Resident Kevin Kuntz voiced his concerns to the council because he has “three different addresses,” and his “medicine from the VA can’t be shipped to any of them.”

He said that “It’s the only address I’ve had for most of my life,” and the “post office won’t recognize it.”

Kuntz said he has a problem “getting medicine, veteran’s stuff, and insurance” because they will not deliver to a post office box, and they don’t recognize any of his three addresses.

Other residents agreed with his frustration.

Renie Neal expressed concern that “they are minimizing us as a community” since they “use a Palmerton address and not Bowmanstown.”

Wendy Borger and President Pam Leiby also pointed out that Bowmanstown and Palmerton have different zip codes. Leiby said, “It’s not fair to pay for a box and not be able to get mail.”

Councilwoman Kara Scott said, “It seems like they are trying to eliminate Bowmanstown,” and questioned the legality of what the Postal Service is doing.

Further, she said, “We’re paying $78 a year for our mail and can’t get it.”

Leiby said, “They are trying to phase out smaller community post offices.”

Councilman Ben Price agreed and said, “It has always been (the state’s) long-term plan to consolidate municipalities.”

Contacted after the meeting, United States Postal Service spokesman Mark Lawrence noted that there is no plan to shutter the Bowmanstown Post Office.

“The Bowmanstown Post Office is not being eliminated,” he said.

As for the change in zip code, it pertains to post office box customers in Bowmanstown who have elected to have street delivery instead. He explained that post office box delivery inside the Bowmanstown Post Office carries the Bowmanstown zip code of 18030, while outside delivery to Bowmanstown uses the Palmerton zip code of 18071.