MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - With a record breaking winter, many schools and businesses have experienced snow days and cold days, with temperatures hitting far into the negatives. However, there is one job that never has a day off, unless it's Sunday that is.

"They have met the challenge this year, they have dressed appropriately, we have given service talks, they've had heat warmers inside their gloves to help keep their hands warm," Sabrina Todd said, a customer relations media coordinator for the United States Postal Service. "So they know the drill about dressing properly and layering that type of thing."

While the mail carriers are doing their job, so are the plowtruck drivers.

"Especially in these heavy snows that we've been having this winter and with the front plows on our trucks," Bill Conklin said, Managing Director for the Ingham County Road Department. "That snow comes off at pretty high velocity and its heavy and icy and that can easily damage a mailbox."

If a mailbox is damaged due to a plow truck hitting it directly, the county will pay up to $30 for a replacement, however if the damage is caused by the snow coming off the plow, then it is up to the homeowners to replace it

Conklin said that this season they've had to replace more than 200 mailboxes in Ingham County. For the rest of the homeowners who are left with a mailbox buried by snow, the post office offers some suggestions.

"They need to clear it enough so that the carrier can drive up to the mailbox, service it and then be able to drive away," Todd said.

However, if you are unable to clear the area so that a carrier is not in danger..

"They can come in and place their mail on hold," Todd said. "Some people have rented post office boxes for the winter that way they always get their mail."

Todd and Conklin both hope that everyone has learned from this winter and will be better prepared for next year.