Post offices’ fate now in community’s hands

The fate of post offices in Hardenville, Zanoni and Rockbridge is now in the hands of the community, according to United States Postal Service investigative coordinators Frances Boman and Bobbi Jenkins, who spoke to public meetings in the affected communities last week. Boman, postmaster in Aurora, and Jenkins, postmaster in Strafford, explained the USPS' decision-making process in considering the closing of 3,653 post offices nationwide, 167 of them in Missouri.
The meetings drew 24 people in Hardenville, 21 in Zanoni and 19 in Rockbridge. The postmasters from the three affected post offices attended, as did Gainesville postmaster Kellie Stafford. Commissioners T. J. Lewis, David Morrison and Greg Donley represented Ozark County.
Following the meetings, Steven Vanderhoof, retired postmaster from Marshfield, advised the groups about ways to protest the closings. A member of the National Association of Postmasters of the U.S. and the League of Postmasters, Vanderhoof volunteers his time and expertise to help communities navigate USPS bureaucracy.
The USPS receives no taxpayer dollars in support of its operations. All its services must be paid by revenue from the sale of stamps and services provided to the public. In fact, the postal service is forbidden to show a profit and must operate in a break-even mode, according to Boman. At present, the USPS has a $5 billion deficit and is considering a number of cost-cutting measures, including the closing of some post offices.
The meetings are the beginning of a tiered process mandated by postal regulations that will determine the future of the post offices, and Boman stated that the closings are "not a done deal."
Public comments at the community meetings become part of an official public record, and surveys previously mailed to individuals within the three post offices' zip codes will be considered in the evaluation process. Petitions in support of maintaining the post offices are currently circulating. Boman suggested that individuals write letters explaining why the post offices are important, even vital, to the communities. Those letters do not have to come from patrons serviced by the three post offices. Anyone can submit a comment by mail or on line to the addresses provided on the proposals posted in the individual post offices.

Three criteria being studied
The USPS discontinuance feasibility study will consider three criteria: workload, revenue and proximity to other postal facilities and services. A workload of 2.0 hours is considered a minimum for a post office, and Hardenville logs 1.34 hours, Zanoni registers 1.45 hours and Rockbridge shows 1.02 hours. Boman could not supply the formula by which the hours are computed.
Revenues at the Hardenville office were $10,900 in 2008, $12,459 in 2009 and $19,058 in 2010. Zanoni's revenues were $16,301 in 2008, $16,278 in 2009 and $13,326 in 2010. Rockbridge's revenues were $9,255 in 2008, $9,588 in 2009 and $7,875 in 2010.
The general time frame for the feasibility study is 138 days from the time the proposal to close an office is posted. The proposals for the three post offices should be posted this week, according to Boman. A comment period of 61 days follows the posting in which surveys, petitions and letters will be accepted for consideration. After that time, a final ruling will be issued to close or not to close. A 30-day appeal can be initiated by any individual requesting one, and the USPS will respond to that appeal within 75 days.
If all three post offices are closed, Gainesville will become the closest administrative office for the affected postal patrons. However, Boman emphasized that no one's address, including the zip code, would change.
"Customers don't rely on brick-and-mortar buildings anymore," said Boman, emphasizing that rural mail carriers can provide the same services customers enjoy at their post offices, including mailing packages, purchasing stamps and money orders and special services such as certified, registered and express mail. Vacationers can request that their mail be held at the post office and delivered upon their return. Many of these same services are available on-line at the USPS.com website.

‘Worst of the worst'
Greg Donley commented that country people value the one-on-one contact that a rural postmaster provides. "We're personal people, and that's the way we want to keep it."
Donley suggested that the closing of the post offices could be a money-losing proposition for the postal service if people quit using the USPS and do business with FedEx or UPS.
When asked if consideration is given for historic sites, Boman advised that Rockbridge's status as the first county seat in Ozark County might be a sound basis for a letter arguing against closure.
Others pointed out that the area has already lost post offices in Sycamore, Brixey, Vanzant and Souder.
Following the official meeting, Steven Vanderhoof told the group that if the USPS eliminates all of the 3,653 post offices being considered for closure, it will save only seven-tenths of one percent in costs.
Vanderhoof said the government uses the USPS as a "cash cow" because Congress requires 100 percent funding of pensions and healthcare to be paid to the government in the amount of $5.5 billion annually. Experts estimate between $50 billion to $75 billion in excess funding has been paid into the USPS account. If that money were returned to the postal service, it could operate in its current form for at least another ten years, according to the retired postmaster.
"Taking away your post office is the worst of the worst," he said.
Vanderhoof reviewed the posting and appeal process with the groups. He stated that submitting comments during the 61-day reporting period following posting of the proposal is critical to influencing the USPS decision. He also urged citizens to contact their elected representatives, especially U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson who has successfully defended rural post offices in the past.
For further information regarding the process call Joanne Dean, district discontinuance coordinator, at 816-374-9686.
Comment forms are available at the post offices being studied for closure. The forms can be completed and returned to those postmasters. Letters and comments about the post offices can also be mailed to:

Joanne Dean
USPS
300 W. Pershing Road, Suite 210
Kansas City, MO 65108

<p>Frances Boman, USPS investigative coordinator, spoke to 21
concerned citizens at Zanoni Mill last week about the possibility
of closing the Zanoni post office.</p>