The U.S. Postal Service will hold a public meeting here in Hutchinson to discuss its proposal to move mail processing operations from the Hutchinson Customer Service Mail Processing Center into the Wichita Center.

The meeting will take place at 7 p-m on Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Hutchinson Post Office, 128 E. 1st Ave., in Hutchinson.

Officials say that with the deep decline in mail volume due to current economic conditions and continuing electronic diversion, the Postal Service has an excess of employees and equipment in some mail processing operations. A study was begun on Sept. 15 at the Hutchinson processing center to determine the feasibility of consolidating redundant operations to see if any efficiencies and cost savings would be achieved.

Initial study results support consolidating mail processing operations that are currently being performed in Hutchinson by taking advantage of available processing capacity at the Wichita center in order to increase efficiency and improve productivity.

However, no final decision has been reached, and postal service managers will give an overview of the reasons for the proposal and its possible outcomes, and will listen to community input and concerns.

A summary of the proposal and presentation materials will be made available online one week prior to the meeting at https://about.usps.com/streamlining-operations/area-mail-processing.htm.

Anyone who wishes to submit comments in writing can send them to:

Manager of Consumer and Industry Contact
PO Box 199504
Omaha NE 68119-9504

Public comments will be accepted through Dec. 16, 2011.