Post office, lithium lead concerns at recent Niland town-hall event

NILAND — Residents eager to hear updates about the Niland Post Office were presented with a couple options from post office officials during Wednesday’s Northend Action Council town-hall meeting.

Manager of Post Office Operations in San Diego District Frank Lemus said constructing a new facility would take roughly a year to 18 months.

“We have to lease. It’s what we’ve been doing. lt’s what we’ve always done and will continue to do as well,” he said.

The post office is looking at a few locations, but Lemus said he believes the best option would be to move next to Yeyas Market on the corner of Main Street and Highway 111.

“It’s visible and makes a lot of sense to put it (the post office) in that facility,” he added.

Councilwoman Diana Juarez questioned the functionality of post offices in store fronts as well as the image the city wants to represent in the future Lithium Valley

“We going to have these companies, and we’re going to lose out,” she added. “Are we going to have the facility to provide them (companies) with a box?”

Lemus assured the public would have a fully functioning post office that will grow with the city.

“That’s my promise to you guys, and we’ll get it here as soon as possible,” he added.

District 4 Supervisor Ryan Kelly provided updates on the status of mining operations in Lithium Valley.

“There’s a lot of good new happening,” Kelly said. “Mineral extraction is going to happen.”

Efforts to align Imperial County with manufacturers that use use lithium are currently under negotiations.

The county is also in talks with companies that provide end-of-life recycling along with mineral recapturing, he added.

Dean of Economic and Workforce Development at Imperial Valley College Efrain Silva said the college is gearing up to prepare the workforce for training.

“We’re looking at about 5,000 to 6,000 jobs for our community,” he said.

Current educational offerings at IVC provide training to compete in the job market, but Smith said a few more classes are needed to meet the specialized demands of employers. Future programs Smith said the college is working on is math, instrumentation and plant operator program.

“Our students upon completion will have the skills that the companies are looking for,” he added.

Efforts to develop Niland green space have begun with appointment of local landscaping company DuBose Design Group.

DuBose Design Vice President Annette Leon said it is important for the community to be involved with the planning process.

“We’re going to brainstorm as a community and through that find out what are immediate needs are,” she said.

The proposed park will be maintained by the county, and Leon said the project is expected to be completed in two phases.

“I’m just so grateful that they thought to take a local person like myself to help them,” she added.