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As part of a nationwide program to reduce costs to their consumers, the U.S. Postal Service is shuffling some of its mail carriers around to different offices and condensing window hours at select locations, including several around the Chillicothe area.
“We’re just trying to do better by our customers,” said Postal Service spokesman Richard Watkins.
Post offices in Jamesport, Wheeling, Dawn, Ludlow, Meadville, and Trenton are currently being affected by these changes. However, Watkins emphasizes that the differences being implemented are no reason for concern for postal customers.
Watkins went on to explain that nearly 75 percent of post offices across the nation are leased buildings. Because of the driving high number the economy has put on lease prices (well above the fair market value for these locations), the postal service must up its rates for those who ship through their specified windows to meet costs. By moving carriers to other offices and, therefore, using less space in certain locations, as well as by using buildings less with minimized window hour times, the postal service could be able to then ask for a lesser lease rate from the building’s owner (or force a move to another leasable location within the town that offers a lower price), in turn driving down the price of shipping for the customers.
If a local post office has had its hours cut back or its carriers moved, that should be seen as a positive when it comes to the possibility of a full-on closure, Watkins says; it means that the space occupied by the post office and its services are a needed commodity, and are, thus, being accommodated by the postal service in an effort to keep that location open. He is also quick to point out that any closures would be immediately dealt with, in the form of community meetings and open communication. Confidentiality would be the least productive course of action in such a circumstance.
“We would have our postmasters and operations managers being very up-front about that,” Watkins said. “I want to emphasize that down the road, decreased hours for multiple post offices around the area may be a possibility — but not right now.”
The following changes will be, or have been, seen in post offices across the surrounding area:
— Jamesport Post Office’s three carriers have been moved to Trenton’s post office, and will sort their mail at that location. Jamesport’s office is also implementing a 45-minute lunchtime closing around midday, to cut back its hours. The hours for this post office will now be from 8 until 11:15 a.m., and from noon until 4:30 p.m.
As part of a nationwide program to reduce costs to their consumers, the U.S. Postal Service is shuffling some of its mail carriers around to different offices and condensing window hours at select locations, including several around the Chillicothe area.
“We’re just trying to do better by our customers,” said Postal Service spokesman Richard Watkins.
Post offices in Jamesport, Wheeling, Dawn, Ludlow, Meadville, and Trenton are currently being affected by these changes. However, Watkins emphasizes that the differences being implemented are no reason for concern for postal customers.
Watkins went on to explain that nearly 75 percent of post offices across the nation are leased buildings. Because of the driving high number the economy has put on lease prices (well above the fair market value for these locations), the postal service must up its rates for those who ship through their specified windows to meet costs. By moving carriers to other offices and, therefore, using less space in certain locations, as well as by using buildings less with minimized window hour times, the postal service could be able to then ask for a lesser lease rate from the building’s owner (or force a move to another leasable location within the town that offers a lower price), in turn driving down the price of shipping for the customers.
If a local post office has had its hours cut back or its carriers moved, that should be seen as a positive when it comes to the possibility of a full-on closure, Watkins says; it means that the space occupied by the post office and its services are a needed commodity, and are, thus, being accommodated by the postal service in an effort to keep that location open. He is also quick to point out that any closures would be immediately dealt with, in the form of community meetings and open communication. Confidentiality would be the least productive course of action in such a circumstance.
“We would have our postmasters and operations managers being very up-front about that,” Watkins said. “I want to emphasize that down the road, decreased hours for multiple post offices around the area may be a possibility — but not right now.”
The following changes will be, or have been, seen in post offices across the surrounding area:
— Jamesport Post Office’s three carriers have been moved to Trenton’s post office, and will sort their mail at that location. Jamesport’s office is also implementing a 45-minute lunchtime closing around midday, to cut back its hours. The hours for this post office will now be from 8 until 11:15 a.m., and from noon until 4:30 p.m.
— The Wheeling post office sent its rural carrier over to Meadville Post Office, meaning that Meadville will now house two carriers. Wheeling’s window hours have also been cut down to from noon until 4 p.m. on weekdays, and from noon until 2 p.m. on Saturdays. They also have recently implemented at 24-hour open lobby, though, where residents with post office boxes can come to get their mail at all hours of the day and/or night.
— Ludlow’s post office will also be receiving another carrier, this one being the rural carrier from the Dawn Post Office. The Dawn Post Office window will be open from noon until 4 p.m. on weekdays, and from noon until 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Watkins would like to lay to rest one of the bigger concerns people in the area may have when hearing of these changes: their mail coming late (or, at least, later than usual).
“Some people may actually get their mail earlier, depending upon where they’re at,” he said. “Most won’t see any change at all.”
