Postal Service study creates concerns about delivery

A study on the best place to process mail from the Hannibal region is sparking debate.
As part of a national cost-cutting effort, the Postal Service is looking at whether it could save money, improve efficiency and boost productivity by moving some mail processing from Quincy to Springfield, Ill.
Affected would be letters put in drop boxes, picked up by carriers or handed over the counter at post offices in the 634, 635 and 623 ZIP Codes of Northeast Missouri and West-Central Illinois.
The Quincy facility likely would still handle some mail, but the amount would be reduced.
The study began in May and should be done by August or September. said Postal Service spokeswoman Valerie Hughes. Public comment is welcome.
“The whole purpose of the study is to check on the feasibility,” Hughes said. “The Postal Service won’t move forward if (a consolidation) doesn’t make sense.”
The postal workers union fears the job cuts and service reductions its says could result by moving functions to Springfield from Quincy.
In a letter to a Postal Service customer affairs manager, Local 77 president Vaughn Harshman said  mail that included “prescriptions, bank deposits, invoices, cards, letters” and other documents could be affected and that “this could negatively impact the mail service to our area.”
“The burden of the USPS economic situation should not be placed on our local communities,” Harshman wrote. “This should not be used as a reason to risk the customer service standards we now receive.”
Hughes cautioned that until the study is done, it’s “too early to say” anything about projected impacts and that the Postal Service would “not want to do anything that adversely affects our customers.”
The Quincy processing center has 65 employees handling 950,000 to 1.1 million pieces of mail daily from the three ZIP Codes.
Postmaster General John Potter recently said that despite cost-cutting moves and the elimination of 25,000 jobs, the agency still faces a $6.5 billion loss this year.
Potter has said delivery could be cut from six to five days a week, though there are no immediate plans to take that step.
Much of the financial losses result from falling demand and increased competition.
The Postal Service says a regional public hearing would be held if the study supports consolidation and input would be considered before final decision is made.
Comments can be sent to USPS Customer Affairs Manager, 1720 Market St., Room 1015, St. Louis, Mo., 63155-9631.