Postmaster to establish local advisory group

Acting Springfield Postmaster Chris Adams is planning to host an initial meeting to establish a local Customer Advisory Council at 6 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave.

The groups provide a forum for residential and small-business customers to express their concerns, ideas and suggestions to postal officials, according to a news release.

Postal managers are active participants in CACs, according to the release, and can help answer questions; clarify postal rules, regulations and procedures; discuss and resolve problems; and inform council members of new and changing postal services and programs.

Adams is slated to be on hand at the meeting to answer questions and provide applications for those interested in joining the CAC. Applications also are available at the Springfield Main Post Office, 500 W. Chestnut Expressway, according to the release.

The move comes amid changing times for the postal service. The U.S. Post Office announced in late December the price of a first class stamp will rise from 46 to 49 cents in late January.

USPS had been looking at moving to a five-day delivery schedule before Congress put a halt to plans last April. 

Locally, Springfield’s sorting operations were slated to end next month. Regional USPS spokesman Richard Watkins said the transfer of sorting operations to Kansas City will begin in the next few months.

Watkins also said Jeff Drake, who was sworn in last February as Springfield postmaster, has served as the acting Kansas City postmaster for the past two months. Drake is filling in for Deb Woodrum, who is on detail in mail processing operations in California, according to Watkins. He said no timetable has been set for Drake’s return to Springfield.