Birmingham AL --- The U.S. Postal Service is moving forward with a plan to keep Post Offices across the country open by realigning retail window hours based on customer use. Community meetings concerning 25 Alabama Post Offices are scheduled November. (Please see list at end of release.)
In early September 2012, each of the U.S. Postal Service’s 67 districts began the two-year nationwide process of notifying affected communities of the changed hours of operations of local Post Offices and other options available to them. Residents received a survey requesting their preference from four options available at their Post Office and a letter inviting them to a community meeting where postal officials will share survey results and answer questions.
Four options listed in survey:
- Keep the Post Office open, based on actual office workload. For example, hours would be reduced from 8 hours each weekday to 4 hours per weekday. Current Saturday hours will not change as a result of POStPlan and access to your delivery receptacles will not be impacted by POStPlan.
- Conduct a discontinuance study for the office and offer roadside mailbox delivery. Retail and delivery service would be provided through a rural carrier. Mail delivery points will be established and customers can purchase most postal services through the carrier or other alternate access points.
- Conduct a discontinuance study for the office and find a suitable alternative location operated by a contractor, usually at a local business. When businesses are found that meet the criteria, these establishments are contracted through the U.S. Postal Service and offer stamps and flat rate products with service hours generally more expansive than what the local Post Office will be able to offer.
- Conduct a discontinuance study for the office and provide P.O. Box service via another nearby Post Office and relocate P.O. Box delivery to that Post Office.
Post Offices evaluated under the POStPlan will remain open with realigned hours unless a community has a strong preference for one of the other options. If a community chooses realigned Post Office retail window hours, Saturday hours will not change and access to delivery receptacles will not be reduced as a result of POStPlan.
The U.S. Postal Service continues to pursue the establishment of the Village Post Office (VPO) in the communities affected by these changes and in other areas across the country, including communities with Post Offices. VPOs may be established in convenience stores, other local businesses, libraries, etc. — and are managed by the proprietors. By being located inside established businesses and other places consumers already frequent, VPOs offer postal customers time-saving convenience, and in most cases, longer hours than regular Post Offices. VPOs offer a range of popular postal products and services —including Post Office Boxes, Forever stamps, and Prepaid Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes.
ALABAMA COMMUNITY MEETINGS - NOVEMBER SCHEDULE
Thursday, November 1, 3:00 pm
Bon Air Post Office – Meeting at Bon Air Town Hall, 227 Front St, Bon Air AL 35032
Thursday, November 1, 6:00 pm
Wing Post Office – Meeting at Wing Fire Department, 3085 AL Hwy 137, Wing AL 36483
Monday, November 5, 6:00 pm
Gallant Post Office – Meeting at Gallant First Baptist Church, 8955 Gallant Rd, Gallant AL 35972
Monday, November 5, 6:00 pm
Marbury Post Office – Meeting at Marbury Middle School, 210 County Rd 20 E, Marbury AL 36051
Wednesday, November 7, 5:00 pm
Margaret Post Office – Meeting at North Valley Church, 900 Woodland Circle, Odenville AL 35120
Thursday, November 8, 6:00 pm
Bellwood Post Office – Meeting at Bellwood Community Center, 3931 County Rd 45, Bellwood AL 36313
Thursday, November 8, 6:00 pm
Riverside Post Office – Meeting at Riverside Storm Shelter, 379 Depot St, Riverside AL 35135
Thursday, November 8, 6:30 pm
Tibbie Post Office – Meeting at Tibbie Baptist Church, 160 Tibbie Church Rd, Tibbie AL 36583
Tuesday, November 13, 12:00 Noon
Mooresville Post Office – Meeting at Historic Brick Church Building, 25035 Lauderdale St, Mooresville AL 35649
Tuesday, November 13, 5:30 pm
Bankston Post Office – Meeting at Bankston Post Office, 10745 Hwy 18, Bankston AL 35542
Tuesday, November 13, 5:30 pm
Chapman Post Office – Meeting at Brushy Creek Baptist Church, 206 Brushy Creek Rd, Greenville AL 36037
Tuesday, November 13, 6:30 pm
Frankville Post Office – Meeting at Frankville Baptist Church, 2630 County Rd 331, Frankville AL 36538
Thursday, November 15, 5:00 pm
Glenwood Post Office – Meeting at Glenwood Town Hall, North King St, Glenwood AL 36034
Thursday, November 15, 6:00 pm
Coker Post Office – Meeting at Coker Fire Department, 14600 Hwy 140, Coker AL 35452
Thursday, November 15, 6:00 pm
Eva Post Office – Meeting at Eva Community Center, 3824 Eva Rd, Eva AL 35621
Thursday, November 15, 6:00 pm
Panola Post Office – Meeting at Panola Community Center, 5816 Claude Jackson Rd, Sumter 35, Panola AL 35477
Thursday, November 15, 6:00 pm
Remlap Post Office – Meeting at Remlap Fire Station, 40 Fire Fighter Ln, Remlap AL 35133
Monday, November 26, 6:00 pm
Edwardsville Post Office – Meeting at Edwardsville Town Hall, 4036 Tallapoosa St, Edwardsville AL 36261
Tuesday, November 27, 5:00 pm
Fruithurst Post Office – Meeting at Fruithurst Senior Center, 48 School St, Fruithurst AL 36262
Tuesday, November 27, 6:00 pm
Flat Rock Post Office – Meeting at Flat Rock Community Club, 684 County Rd 326, Flat Rock AL 35966
Tuesday, November 27, 6:00 pm
Gainesville Post Office – Meeting at Gainesville Municipal Complex, 9083 State St, Gainesville AL 35464
Tuesday, November 27, 6:00 pm
Sunflower Post Office – Meeting at Wagarville Baptist Church, 27579 Hwy 56, Wagarville AL 36585
Thursday, November 29, 5:00 pm
Quinton Post Office – Meeting at West Jefferson Town Hall, 7000 West Jefferson Rd, Quinton AL 35130
Thursday, November 29, 6:00 pm
Cusseta Post Office – Meeting at Cusseta Baptist Church, 3267 County Rd 83, Cusseta AL 36852
Thursday, November 29, 6:00 pm
Goodsprings Post Office – Meeting at Goodsprings Church of Christ, 1400 Goodsprings Rd, Goodsprings AL 35560
ALABAMA COMMUNITY MEETINGS – REMAINING OCTOBER SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 25, 5:00 pm
Bear Creek Post Office – Meeting at Bobby Bishop Center, 260 High Ave, Bear Creek AL 35543
Thursday, October 25, 5:00 pm
Dozier Post Office – Meeting at Jan Cook Community Center, 7712 S Main St, Dozier AL 36028
Thursday, October 25, 5:00 pm
Garden City Post Office – Meeting at Garden City Town Hall, 501 First Ave South, Garden City AL 35070
Thursday, October 25, 6:00 pm
River Falls Post Office – Meeting at River Falls Baptist Church, 24951 Covington St, River Falls AL 36476
Tuesday, October 30, 6:00 pm
Whatley Post Office – Meeting at First Baptist Church of Whatley, 26820 Hwy 84 West, Whatley AL 36482
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The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 151 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 35th in the 2011 Fortune 500. In 2011, the U.S. Postal Service was ranked number one in overall service performance, out of the top 20 wealthiest nations in the world, by Oxford Strategic Consulting. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency for six years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.
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