Beech Tree News Network

Butler County post offices have been a central part of local communities for several years, which brings many to wonder why a few local post offices aren't staying open as long, or have closed down altogether. According to Joey Elms, Post Master for the Morgantown Post Office, this is all just a normal part of the postal business.

United States Post Office hours are determined by a revenue based evaluation system. This system analyzes how much revenue an office brings in, and then compares that number to how much it costs to keep the office open for a certain length of time. Based on these numbers, the system then quantifies the cost and the individual needs of the post office, and from these amounts decides whether the current hours and days of operation for each office are acceptably efficient, or need to be updated. Most post offices run 5-7 days a week, and anywhere from 2-8 hours per day.

The system also uses community preferences to decide what time of day to operate, and strives to make the operation of post offices as convenient as possible for local communities. The system in place works to minimize any negative effects of downsizing. This system, though unfamiliar to some, has actually been in place for years. "This isn't a new thing," Mr. Elms explains. He says that post offices have been operated in this way since the beginning.

According to Mr. Elms, all local post offices are still open and operating, with the exception of the Dunbar office, which will remain under emergency suspension due to the condition of the building being unfit to remain in operation at this time. The Dunbar Post Office is expected to be reopened and returned to its usual hours soon.

The following lists the hours of operation for each local post office.

• Woodbury: Monday-Friday, 11:30-1:30pm; Saturday, 11:30-1:30pm

• Jetson: Monday-Saturday, 11 am-1 pm.

• Rochester: Monday-Friday, 7 am-3:30 pm; Saturday, 9 am-11 am.

• Aberdeen: Monday-Friday, 9:15 am-1:15 pm; Saturday, 9:30 am-11:30 am.

The Morgantown Office is open daily from 8am-4pm.
 
According to the Morgantown postmaster, the Rochester Post Office will likely be reducing its hours of operation to 4 hours, these new hours are to be decided in the near future.

The revenue based system currently utilized by the USPS limits the hours of offices with less traffic, and allows busier offices to remain open longer. This efficient process lessens the use of resources, minimizing negative effects to the USPS budget.

Story by J. Harris, Beech Tree News