LAKE COUNTY — In the wake of announcing $5.1 billion in losses for the 2011 fiscal year, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced it is looking into closing hundreds of mail processing facilities, including one in Petaluma that would impact the speed in which Lake County residents can send and receive mail.
James Wigdel, a USPS spokesman, said the announcement came in September, which coincided with the fiscal year”s end. He said the move is “dramatic” because the USPS has 500 mail processing facilities around the nation and is looking into closing 250 of them.
The move would see county mail service impacted by one day, he said, taking two-to-three days for delivery instead of one-to-three days.
Wigdel said a study was launched in September that looked into the feasibility of closing the Petaluma facility and transferring operations and employees to the Oakland mail processing facility. He said no employees would be laid off.
The study determined the closure and transfer of operations would be beneficial, saving the USPS approximately $2.5 million per year, Wigdel said. The move is part of a nationwide network reorganization for the postal service.
Following the study, a public meeting was held on Nov. 16 at the Petaluma Community Center for public input. Wigdel said local unions, employees, congressional representatives and media were notified of the meeting.
Lake County residents and media were not notified of the meeting, and Wigdel said only the surrounding communities and newspapers, such as the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and Petaluma Argus-Courier, were notified. He said it is not standard to send blanket mailings to residents.
Wigdel said Lake County residents can still voice their concerns by sending a letter post-marked by today to:
Theresa Lambino, Manager, Consumer and Industry Contact, San Francisco District, P.O. Box 193000, San Francisco, CA 94188.
Wigdel said the next step in the process is to review all the public comment from the meeting and all written comments and review them before making a recommendation on whether to close the facility. He said the recommendation will be forwarded to the USPS area office in San Diego.
The San Diego office will review the proposal, and then make a decision whether to agree with the recommendation or make modifications to the proposal, before forwarding its decision on to Washington, D.C. for a final decision, Wigdel said.
An expected final decision from Washington is expected early next year, he said.
Wigdel recommended Lake County residents write letters and get them in the mail by today, adding the decision is not final and the USPS will consider all input.
A Facebook page has been set up at www.facebook.com/StopTheClosure.NorthBay in opposition to the proposed closure.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14.
