Study to decide fate of Metz Post Office

Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The Metz Post Office sets just to the west of and blocks the view of the Methodist Church where a community meeting was held on Monday evening, to present patrons with information regarding the discontinuance study being conducted on the Metz Post Office and other post offices in Vernon County

Saying this is "a chance to voice your questions and your concerns" Heather Mitchem, an investigative coordinator for the Metz Post Office and post master for the Jasper, Mo., post office welcomed about 50 patrons of the Metz post office to an informational meeting held in the Metz Methodist Church on Monday evening.

The meeting was arranged so Mitchem could provide citizens some information about the discontinuance study that may end up costing the community its post office. Mitchem told the group " my job is to inform you of the study and process."

She went on to say that the purpose of the study was to "determine if efficient regular and effective service can be provided to the community without the brick and mortar building that's currently there."

The investigative coordinator for the Metz Post Office and post master for the Jasper, Mo., post office, Heather Mitchem, explains the process of the current discontinuance study being done on the post office in Metz and 132 other post offices in Vernon County and the southern part of the state to about 50 patrons of the Metz facility.

You have two chances to voice written questions or concerns that you have. A question asked here is recorded and becomes part of the official record that goes to the decision makers. Any one who filled out the questionnaire that was sent to all patrons with the initial letter will receive an answer. That questionnaire can still be obtained at the Metz Post Office.

Mitchem gave the crowd an idea of the kinds of questions she could and couldn't answer. I can't tell you why the post office shouldn't just go bankrupt, but I can answer questions about service or delivery. She also made it clear that at this point in the process, it was just a study; no decisions have been made yet.

Mitchem informed the group that there were 132 other offices in the study area that were being considered for closure. She cited three reasons for closing. A) How many offices are within a given area, B) the workload at the post office, and C) post offices that make less than $27,500 per year. "The Metz post office meets all three of those criteria."

The decision to close a post office is not just a financial decision, she said, but the Metz post office has had declining revenue for the past three years at least. In 2008 the post office made $15,364, in 2009 it brought in $14,616 and in 2010 it declined to $13,350; "it's on a steady decline," Mitchem said.

Mitchem told the residents that closure of the post office would not affect delivery, just post office boxes and services offered in the building. She pointed out that addresses would not change. You will keep your city, state and zip code, she said. If the post office does close, the mail would be delivered by what is called a "dual zone carrier" probably out of Rich Hill. Patrons could also rent a post office box in Rich Hill.

Mitchem spent a bit of time explaining how the process would play out and how patrons could voice their concerns. After all the study information is gathered and turned in a final determination will be posted. If patrons feel like the process did not follow the letter of the law, an appeal can be made within a given time period. A reply will be given within 120 days. Mitchem said they usually wait for 119 days to reply.

Mitchem spent several minutes going over the duties of rural carriers. She called them a "post office on wheels" and said rural carriers can do anything you can do in the post office. "Our rural carriers are way under utilized," she said. Mitchem then opened up the floor for questions or concerns.

Jim Corl of Rich Hill cited higher taxes Bates County and city surcharges in Rich Hill as a reason to keep a "Vernon County identity." Scott Buerge of the Metz Bank expressed concerns about security issues and the bank's mail and another employee of the bank was interested to find out about delivery and pick up times because of the time sensitive documents she had to deal with. Mitchem offered some of the different options that would be available to patrons in response to the inquiries.

Patty Hagemann said she represented the city council and had concerns about the disabled and elderly residents in the community. "To close this post office would be a crime, an inconvenience," she said. Mitchem offered the option of "hardship delivery" for customers not able to use the normal postal system for physical reasons. That option can be used after getting the proper form and having it filled out by a doctor.

The issue of rural mailboxes also came up and Mitchem also gave some options for that concern. She mentioned secure boxes that could only be accessed with a key and then someone brought up the issue of temperature sensitive medication like insulin. Mitchem had answers there too! She said the post office is willing to work with customers to optimize delivery.

Call the post office, she said, "we're going to work with you." She made sure patrons knew about the toll free number and how that system worked before thanking everyone for coming. Mitchem stayed on after the meeting to help anyone that wanted to get their name and information on the sign-up sheet and to answer questions.

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