Is that "post" hollow? Is it just a soffet? That "post" doesn't go all the way to a beam under the roof, right?

At first glance, it doesn't look to be load bearing, not in the correct/traditional sense. If this is bearing a load, the load would be borne on the fasteners and not the top of the beam, which, would be correct.

I agree that it does not look to be loadbearing in the traditional sense, but it looks like it is holding something up...like the end of a beam. Can you explain better what is going on in that picture? That post looks like a somewhat oddly installed detail. If it is at all functional, I'm not sure it would pass inspection.

if you don't know the purpose of that post, then you need to bring someone out there who can decioher it. Given the position, (pvc water lines behind it), it's geometry (long and slender), and the fact that the top connection is eccentric, if it's carrying load it's not carrying much. I'd say the reason for its existence needs to be understood before monkeying with it at all.

EatYourYard: Any more info abouth this setup? It's always nice to see a followup to these odd situations.