Rick Stiltner, postmaster in Barboursville, W.Va., meets with concerned citizens of Smithfield Dec. 7 regarding the possibility of the town losing its post office in light of the U.S. Postal Service’s financial trouble.

BY MIRANDA STOKES

Staff Writer

Rick Stiltner, postmaster of Barboursville, W.Va., met with concerned citizens of Smithfield Dec. 7 regarding the possibility of the town losing its post office in light of the U.S. Postal Service’s financial trouble. While it was evident he could not answer the group’s most earnest questions, Stiltner assured those present their questions would be taken to the appropriate authority for response.

The prominent question that evening was what would happen to Smithfield’s mail if the post office is shut down. Simply stated, Stiltner said the mail would be handled in Jacksonburg’s office. However, no change of address would be required should that scenario come to fruition, and Rural Route Delivery would also most likely remain unchanged. Stiltner went on to say there were several options in the handling of Smithfield’s mail including installing Collection Box Units (CBU) around the town where carriers would daily serve them. Another option, Stiltner explained, would be for Smithfield residents to obtain a P.O. Box in Jacksonburg. “They’ve not yet defined what delivery will be in this area,” Stiltner stated, as he reiterated the USPS is presently reviewing such options.

“The Post Office is in financial hardship,” Stiltner went on. “I don’t know what the solution is.” He added the USPS is presently losing $24 million daily and has projected to close 3,700 post offices around the country.

Residents asked why the Smithfield office was being targeted, to which Stiltner said Smithfield’s office was being considered for closing due to declining office workload and declining walk-in revenue being generated. “They have a formula to decide the offices that they’re going to close,” Stiltner added, stating that formula was not based solely on the business being done in the proposed offices, but also hinged on how much it is costing to operate those offices. “It’s all about finances,” Stiltner continued. “We’re not making enough to pay our bills anymore and we’re just looking for plans to save money.”

“In my opinion the postal service doesn’t have good business sense,” exclaimed Mayor Bill Hendershot, who stormed out of the public meeting only a half-hour into the forum, along with a few followers.

John McGee bluntly asked Stiltner what the Postal Service was doing on their end to cut its costs. Stiltner replied they had eliminated many jobs in Washington, D.C., and that they now have under 500,000 employees.

As economic recession and fuel prices were mentioned frequently in the group’s discussions, one resident shared, “Most people are on a fixed income. We don’t have the money to go to Jacksonburg.” Dianna Merrifield commented, “The Post Office has been bleeding money for years and hasn’t done anything about it until we’re going over the cliff. Now they’re closing the small town offices that mean the most.”

Nellie Burdine, an elderly resident of the town, shared her worries with those present. “I don’t drive,” she began. “If it wasn’t for my brothers, how would I get my mail?” To this Stiltner brought up the USPS’s Hardship Delivery program which offers mail delivery to a person’s door should that person be unable to get his/her mail otherwise due to extreme physical ailments. However, in order to utilize this service the individual must file some paperwork with the USPS including medical documentation and there must be safe road access to the individual’s home. Following this explanation by Stiltner, Burdine stated haughtily, “If you’re gonna close anybody’s (post office), close Jacksonburg.”

Later on, the McGee family brought up the concern that they receive time-sensitive packages and were worried how they would continue to receive them on time and securely. Stiltner suggested having such packages delivered by Certified Mail. However, that option poses other problems and inconveniences both to the recipient and the mail carrier.

It was then asked why the USPS wasn’t considering other solutions such as combining the Jacksonburg and Smithfield offices or cutting back on the days of service. Stiltner said he didn’t know those answers, but those suggestions should be brought up to the proper entities.

Stiltner then told those present that what they could do to help prevent the office’s closure was to file an appeal as a town. He said there would be an established 30-day window wherein an appeal could be filed with the USPS. “The appeal process can be powerful,” Stiltner noted.

“What I’ve tried to accomplish this evening is to do my very best to explain what the process is as far as closing the post office, what the proposal is, and what options there are,” Stiltner said. However, much was left unanswered at the close of the meeting, leaving citizens feeling frustrated, hopeless, and ignored.