STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The news that Ketchum post box holders may be eligible for free post office box service beginning Jan. 10 quickly riled some Sun Valley residents.

“We received our P.O. Box bill yesterday. It’s $216 for a small box!” texted one Sun Valley resident, after reading the story in last weekend’s Eye on Sun Valley. “Did Sun Valley officials not collaborate with Ketchum in getting the P.O. Box fee eliminated?”

The good news for Sun Valley residents is that the City of Sun Valley is working to secure free post office boxes for qualified Sun Valley residents, said City Clerk Nancy Flannigan.

“We are working as quickly as possible, and we will keep you apprised of any new developments,” she said.

Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw announced the good news over the weekend. Officials from the City of Ketchum have been working with Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, to get a P.O. Box fee exemption for years.

U.S. Postal Service regulations state that post addresses to which mail delivery is unavailable should qualify for a free P.O. Box.