BECKLEY, W.Va. – U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) Tuesday urged residents and business owners to make their voices heard as the U.S. Postal Service solicits public opinion that will determine the future status of post offices throughout southern West Virginia.
"Many of our post offices have been spared from closure, at least for the time being, but there is still the threat that window service hours could be substantially reduced to as little as two hours per day. That's not just an inconvenience for our communities; it could disrupt basic mail delivery services that our residents and businesses rely upon," said Rahall, who has been active and vocal in defending post offices in southern West Virginia.
On August 23, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) approved the U.S. Postal Service's POSTPlan, which would avert the closure of post offices by allowing affected communities to opt for a reduction in window hour service. In addition, communities could opt also for roadside mailbox delivery; the establishment of a contractor-operated postal location; or relocate P.O. box service to a nearby post office.
"There is a plan on the table from the Postal Service, and I urge residents and businesses to inform themselves about how it will impact them, and allow their voices to be heard," said Rahall, who has been communicating with the Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission about the impact that reduced window hours would have on rural communities.
The Postal Service is beginning to notify communities of planned changes to window hours and surveying them regarding their preferred hours of operation. Affected residents and businesses can expect to be notified of the date, time, and location of a community meeting, at which the survey results will be discussed. Final decisions about the future of the post office will be posted in the post office lobby no sooner than seven days after the community meeting.
So far, public meetings have been scheduled for the week of October 8 for the Asbury and Crawley Post Offices in Greenbrier County, the Greenville Post Office in Monroe County, and the Lookout and Winona Post Offices in Fayette County. The times and locations are listed below:
- ASBURY Post Office, on October 10, 4 PM, at the Asbury Community Center, Old Asbury Road
- CRAWLEY Post Office, October 10, 5:30 PM, at the Clintonville Fire Department, 18966 Midland Trail W
- GREENVILLE Post Office, October 10, 6:30 PM, at the Greenville Community Center State Route 122
- LOOKOUT Post Office, October 11, 7 PM, at Mount Olive Methodist Church 427 Props Ridge Road
- WINONA Post Office, October 10, 5:30 PM, at Mount Olive Methodist Church 427 Props Ridge Road
