Decatur Island residents are up in arms over new ownership of its mail system.

Items are no longer delivered to the island free of charge. Instead, an annual fee has been instituted. Otherwise, packages and letters are kept at the post office in Anacortes while USPS is locked out of the Decatur mail shed per the decision of the Decatur Shores Community Association, which only constitutes approximately one-fourth of the island. There is another HOA on the island, Decatur Northwest, which also represents one-fourth of the island and is in competition with the DSCA. These two associations combined only represent 50% of the island.

A source who lives on Decatur but would like to remain anonymous, said, “The DSCA’s effort to control the mail is likely attributed, at least in part, to this rivalry.”

Decatur is not served by the state ferry system nor is there a gas station or sheriff, but there is a small schoolhouse and store. The first post office was established in 1891 and remained until 1969. Since then a one-drop postal system in a small shed was instituted and mail was delivered by boat and plane via a contracted employee, not a postal service worker.

The anonymous source said, “It’s very rural,” laughing. “You know, we do find it kind of interesting that U.S. postal is obviously a federal entity. But somewhere along the lines, their service and their protocol, and policies seem to kind of go by the wayside. The post office seems to just kind of turn a blind eye and says, well, because it’s a contract carrier, they can do whatever they want.”

Once the fee for collecting mail was placed upon the shed, there was also security surveillance put in place. Decatur residents report that since USPS is a federal service, they are paying a ransom to obtain their mail.

“Many have moved to the island during the pandemic,” said Annie Austin, a weekend resident of 27 years. “The ability to receive packages from Amazon and others as well as mail makes Decatur Island living feasible. This issue was discussed at a Decatur Shores Community Association board meeting. The privatization of the mail shed seems to have passed unanimously at the board level.” Austin added that many Decatur residents were not consulted about this decision, nor was USPS.

Since the decision was made she has reached out to USPS many times. The first time she called was in October. According to Austin, she got in contact with the Anacortes postmaster who explained that he was looking into the issue and that he had received 130 calls from upset residents. USPS said it delivers to roughly 250 people on Decatur.

“It doesn’t sound like the postal system agrees that that is legal,” according to the anonymous source. “These guys are just trying to take over something that has existed for 40 plus years and trying to get some trying to extort $75 out of everyone. … Decatur’s population is for the majority about 65 and up. We don’t have a pharmacy here. Many rely on the mail to get their medications. I think there are very serious health and safety implications to that. The postal service represents a literal lifeline to the island.”

A water taxi from Decatur costs usually about $90 and is weather-dependent. Austin and the anonymous source are working together to contact those in high political positions about this issue. So far, Austin has emailed Senator Cantwell, Senator Murray, and Representative Rick Larsen.

On Nov. 19, she received a response from Larsen’s office, which read as follows: “This matter is still being investigated to cover all bases and to ensure there is nothing that is overlooked. DSCA is one of the Associations on the Island and from what I understand the mail shed location is on their property which is maintained by the Association. However, they are trying to mitigate or control mail delivery for the entire Island. Even residents that are not included in their Association.”

She said there are alternative locations that are not on private property where a mail shed could be installed.

“We do not understand how DSCA is able to claim to be the controller of mail after some 50-plus years of community precedent,” Austin said.