CUSHING, Iowa (KTIV) -
The Postmaster General outlined a new option that would save the postal service money and jobs.
"A lot of us in this room—in the city—you get mail delivered to your house. If you are in a rural area, you have to drive to the post office to get your mail. And so what they said is - hey - keep it open," said Patrick Donahoe, Postmaster General.
Instead of closing 13,000 rural post offices, there's a plan to keep them open and cut their hours.
For LaVonne Todd, life in the small town of Cushing, Iowa means time in the garden and a daily walk down the street to the Post Office to check the mail. There have been concerns, though, that this community staple would close.
"I suppose I'd either have to take my packages some place else or, you know, I could still get my mail, but if I had to get other things I'd probably have to go out of town to do it," said Todd.
With less than 250 people, some consider closure more than just inconvenient.
"I think it'd be a big hurt to them," said Gary Merkel, the mayor of Cushing.
Without the post office, townspeople would have to make the trek to Holstein or Correctionville for their postal needs.
"We're so used to having it be so close to us, and it just seems like a lot of trouble to go out of town to get our mail," said Shondra Payne.
One of the perks of living in Cushing is that the post office is in the center of town. No one has to walk more than four blocks to get there.
"It is nice to have, just the ability to go down the street, in my instance, the hill and go to the post office if I need to," said Brandi Endrulat.
Right now, Cushing's post office is open five days a week... eight hours a day. The new plan would reduce it to four hours a day. Merkel says the most important thing... it stays open.
"We are out here, a town of less than 250 people. I guess I can only hope that we are fortunate enough to keep our post office," said Merkel.
That's what the Postmaster General is hoping too. Since many people still appreciate getting a letter in mail.
"There is still value in tangible letters and cards and messages that people receive. There's a different reaction, different response that people have to something that people can hold in their hand," said Watkins.
3700 of the 13,000 post offices were slated for closure or consolidation starting next week. The Postal Service now needs regulatory approval and community input. That process could take several months.
And if that plan is approved, Cushing will hold onto its Post Office.
If you'd like to look at the complete list of affected post offices, click here.
