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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
GI Independent: Postal Service to delay closing or consolidation of facilities

By Robert Pore
From: Grand Island Independent

The U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday agreed to delay the closing or consolidation of any post office or mail processing facility until May 15, including the Grand Island mail processing facility and 90 rural post offices in Nebraska.

The five-month delay was the result of a request by a group of U.S. senators, including Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb. Nelson said the delay will buy time for Congress to enact postal reform legislation.

"Closing post offices before we try to fix the system is putting the cart before the horse, so today's decision to delay any closings until next May is good news," Nelson said. "With 90 rural post offices targeted for closure in Nebraska, we have to remember that the USPS was created to provide a public service."

In a statement released on Tuesday, the U.S. Postal Service said it would "continue all necessary steps required for the review of these facilities during the interim period, including public input meetings. The Postal Service hopes this period will help facilitate the enactment of comprehensive postal legislation. Given the Postal Service's financial situation and the loss of mail volume, the Postal Service must continue to take all steps necessary to reduce costs and increase revenue."

The Postal Service has lost nearly $20 billion in the last two years due to the declining volumes of mail, said Rick Pivovar, district manager of the U.S. Postal Service's Central Plains District.

Earlier this month, the Postal Service announced it was closing 250 processing centers, including the one in Grand Island, which would be consolidated with one in Omaha.

More than 100 people attended an informational meeting the Postal Service sponsored in November about the proposed closing in Grand Island that would result in the loss of 50 jobs. Processing plants in Alliance, North Platte, Norfolk and Lincoln would also be closed or see reduced services.

Nelson said the Postal Service has been considering the elimination of overnight delivery and studying whether to close 3,700 mostly rural post offices to reduce expenses. As the Postal Service works to turn around its tough financial conditions, he said, it should take into account the needs of rural communities.

Some of the 90 Nebraska post offices targeted for closing are in Boelus, Hordville, Comstock, Dannebrog, Farwell, Rockville and St. Libory.

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