Residents at the far south end of the Rodney Street neighborhood will continue receiving mail at their homes, although local U.S. Postal Service officials will be more cautious with deliveries in inclement weather.

Last month, postal officials sent letters to 42 addresses on Rodney, Clancy and Division streets, informing them the service was considering the installation of locked community mailboxes. The change was considered because postal carriers have had difficulties mounting the Rodney and Division hills during winter months.

A significant public response convinced the Postal Service to keep delivering mail to those homes.

Customer Service Supervisor Charles Lawellin said he got responses from about half the residents. While a few supported the change, most were opposed.

“They realized it was a safety issue, but they thought it was more important for one person to go to all those houses instead of 30 people all going to one location,” Lawellin said.

Big Sky District Manager John DiPeri earlier this month made the decision to retain the area’s home delivery service.

“The one exception is going to be that on Rodney Hill or on Division Street, any days that it’s snowy or icy, the delivery in those areas is going to be curtailed,” he said.

In the past, carriers would try to get up those hills and only hold mail if they were unsuccessful. Now, officials will tell carriers not to attempt delivery in snowy or icy conditions. On those days, mail and packages will be held for customers to pick up at the Harris Street Post Office. If residents don’t pick up their mail, it will be delivered when service is allowed to resume.

Last week’s snowstorm prompted postal carriers to hold mail for six addresses for three days. All of the residents came into the post office to pick up their deliveries, Lawellin said.

He added that the public-comment process worked well.

“I thought it worked the way it was supposed to,” he said. “Some people really gave me some good feedback on it, and I was really appreciative of that.”

Lawellin said the post office isn’t considering changes in service to any other Helena neighborhoods at this time.

Reporter Larry Kline: 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com