Thanks for your willingness to take some time and write a letter which will accompany our petition to receive our due Gilbert address. You probably have already thought about some of the reasons for our petition, but here are a few that come to mind that should be mentioned:

·         We are already incorporated into Gilbert—both Cordova and Santan Lakeside Estates developers did this at development stage. We SHOULD have ALREADY had a Gilbert zip code from the beginning which would have been given to Gilbert post master to set up our GILBERT route. For some unknown reason, this did not happen.

·         We pay Gilbert higher taxes and Gilbert permitting fees to build in these GILBERT neighborhoods

·         Our physical address (which is Gilbert, 85298) and mailing address should be the same for ease of location in deliveries, emergency response, etc.

·         FlexMLS, the Multiple Listing Service for our Region does NOT allow us to use the Gilbert 85298 physical address for listing properties as the area has been assigned a QUEEN CREEK Zip code of 85142 by Maricopa Assessor’s Office for ease of mailing.  This creates a problem for property values and home searches in our GILBERT neighborhoods of Cordova and Santan Lakeside Estates. It should be noted that the County Assessor’s office researched our neighborhood, found that it was indeed Gilbert and reassigned us to our Gilbert zip code of 85298 but then had to change it back to “be consistent with postal service routes.”

·         A Gilbert mailing address consistent with our physical address means taxes for Gilbert when residents order online products or have any other items shipped to our address.

·         Gilbert Post Office needs to pick up our route. They deliver across the street to Seville, we are Gilbert neighborhoods with just 2 centralized mailboxes.

·         Queen Creek Post Master Jolee Quintana is on board with the change

Ethan, also, you should know that my conversation with address coordinator for the Town of Gilbert, Ken Blake was that they have nothing to do with our zip code dilemma. He said “the postal routes are set by the post master.” In my conversation with Gilbert Post Master, Cindy McCracken, she told me that “postal routes are set by zip codes given us by the town.”  It was my conversation with Queen Creek Post Master Jolee Quintana that led me to phone the Assessor’s office. My assumption was that if we had the correct zip code assigned to us, then we could change the route.  Jemmie Chauza at the County Assessor’s Office investigated our area, made the change and then somebody put the brakes on it saying it would mess up the mail routes. Kinda seems like a vicious cycle that Gilbert Post Office can hopefully put an end to.  If they will pick up our route, then we can have our Gilbert address.  Cindy McCracken is out of town this week, but I would love to have a convincing letter and all of our signatures ready for her when she returns.

Also, can this be done electronically (I’m guessing)?  Sorry, I’m kinda new to the whole petition thing. The Cordova HOA gal, Korin Hatch is prepared to email it to everyone in Cordova (this issue was on the agenda at our last HOA Mtg). I can call Heywood, Santan Lakeside Management Co. to see if they will do the same for Santan Lakeside Estates.