Postal Service to hold meeting on consolidation in Gary

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Updated: June 13, 2011 8:55PM

The U.S. Postal Service is holding a public meeting on June 30 to discuss moving some mail processing operations from Gary to South Bend.

The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Indiana University Northwest auditorium in the Savannah Center, 3400 Broadway in Gary.

The USPS conducted a feasibility study over the last few months to see if any efficiencies and cost savings were possible. The study focused on whether the cancellation process in the Gary facility, which covers municipalities in ZIP codes beginning with 463 and 464, should be consolidated to South Bend. The move could affect about 15 afternoon shift jobs

With the rise in use of email and the Internet, the Postal Service is experiencing deep declines in mail volume, which left it with a $5 billion deficit last year. The Postal Service is federally regulated, but it is not subsidized by taxpayers. The decline in mail has left the USPS with excess employees and equipment in some mail processing centers.

Initial results of the study support moving some mail processing operations to South Bend. The USPS stated in a press release that no final decision has been reached, but officials will be at the meeting to give the reasons for the proposal and its possible outcomes.

A summary of the proposal and presentation materials will be available on usps.com a week before the meeting.

Comments may be submitted until July 15 by mail to Manager, Consumer and Industry Contact, Greater Indiana District Office, 3939 Vincennes Road, Indianapolis, IN 46298-9661.