PORTAGE | David Simkowski can tell the city's growing.

The volume of mail coming through the Portage post office reflects that growth.

In the last nine months, Simkowski told members of the Portage Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, more than 19 million pieces of mail have passed through the Willowcreek Road building. That averages out to 89,000 pieces of mail per day.

"I've been noticing there's been some growth in Portage, and it makes my job a challenge," he said.

Since taking over the reigns at the post office nearly four years ago, Simkowski said delivery points in the city have increased by some 800, up to 16,733 per day.

That increase has been absorbed by the same amount of staff, he said.

He and his 55 staff members have been able to meet that challenge, he said, along with keeping up with the competition such as UPS and FedEx.

"Moving the line in the lobby is a primary concern. My objective is that no one wait more than five minutes in the lobby," he said. "I am committed to improving the service."

Since his arrival, Simkowski, a 35-year employee of the postal service who has spent most of his career in Chicago, said he has extended lobby hours, opening a half hour earlier in the morning and staying open an hour later in the evening.

He's also been promoting the U.S. Postal Service's online services, especially to what he called "Ebay shipper," those who often bring in dozens of packages and lengthen the wait in the lobby.

"Anything we can do in the lobby, with few exceptions, can be done at the computer," he said.