Postal Service may alter Lind operation

The Lind Post Office is being evaluated by the United States Postal Service to determine the best course of action for providing postal services to the community of Lind in the future.

Reduced hours of operation, or actual closure of the post office are being considered.

The Postal Service sent out a survey in August to local residents soliciting input on whether or not community members would prefer one of the following options: Keep the office open with adjusted hours, based on actual workload; discontinue the office and provide roadside mailbox delivery; discontinue the office and find a suitable alternative location operated by a contractor; or discontinue service at the office and relocate PO Box service to a nearby post office.

Unless the community of Lind has a 60 percent voter approval to discontinue services, the Postal Service indicated that it intends to maintain the Lind Post Office with six hours of service each weekday, with Saturday services remaining the same.

In addition to the survey, the Postal Service has arranged a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, at the US Post Office at 119 West Second Avenue in Lind.

At the meeting local management will discuss the results of the survey, answer questions and solicit input regarding the time of day the post office will be in operation.

The Postal Service is seeking locally established businesses or organizations to serve as a contractor-operated postal retail unit.

Anyone interested in operating a postal retail unit can visit http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/expandedaccess/welcome.htm.