A new study could make snail male in the River Valley even slower. The United States Postal Service will conduct a study to decide if they need to consolidate the Fort Smith mail processing center and move it to Fayetteville.
"As a result of the volume loss, we have more facilities, equipment and people than we need to process a declining volume of mail," said David Camp, Arkansas District Manager.
According to the U.S. Postal Service they lost nearly 26 billion pieces of mail in the past year, and expect to lose another 11 billion pieces of mail next year. "While we all want to see government operate as efficiently as possible. I think that this particular study should be done to consider how to expand Fort Smith operations," said Sandy Sanders, Fort Smith Mayor Elect.
About 70 people work in the Fort Smith Customer Service Mail Processing Center, and according to the U.S. Postal Service, if they consolidate those workers get to keep their jobs, but may have to relocate. "Consolidating processing operations and replacing our people where we need them makes logical business sense given the economic realities," said Camp.
Sanders wants jobs coming to Fort Smith, not leaving. Because Fort Smith is the second largest Arkansas city, Sanders thinks the processing center needs to stay put. "Anytime you move an operation farther from the source it could take a longer time. I don't know that for a fact, but that's certainly something we should be concerned about," said Sanders.
Camp said, "I want to assure everyone that we will not make any changes to our operations that would cause delays in our mail service."
If the Fort Smith facility consolidates, the U.S. Postal Service plans to have a public meeting so people can voice their opinions.
"As a result of the volume loss, we have more facilities, equipment and people than we need to process a declining volume of mail," said David Camp, Arkansas District Manager.
According to the U.S. Postal Service they lost nearly 26 billion pieces of mail in the past year, and expect to lose another 11 billion pieces of mail next year. "While we all want to see government operate as efficiently as possible. I think that this particular study should be done to consider how to expand Fort Smith operations," said Sandy Sanders, Fort Smith Mayor Elect.
About 70 people work in the Fort Smith Customer Service Mail Processing Center, and according to the U.S. Postal Service, if they consolidate those workers get to keep their jobs, but may have to relocate. "Consolidating processing operations and replacing our people where we need them makes logical business sense given the economic realities," said Camp.
Sanders wants jobs coming to Fort Smith, not leaving. Because Fort Smith is the second largest Arkansas city, Sanders thinks the processing center needs to stay put. "Anytime you move an operation farther from the source it could take a longer time. I don't know that for a fact, but that's certainly something we should be concerned about," said Sanders.
Camp said, "I want to assure everyone that we will not make any changes to our operations that would cause delays in our mail service."
If the Fort Smith facility consolidates, the U.S. Postal Service plans to have a public meeting so people can voice their opinions.
