Phase out of Quincy mail sorting facility happening sooner rather than later

Phase out of Quincy mail sorting facility happening sooner rather than later

10 months, 2 weeks ago

Transfer of operations to Springfield, Ill. and Columbia, Mo. should be completed by February 2013; USPS had said the transfer would last to 2014

The United States Postal Service has informed City of Quincy officials that the Quincy Mail Processing and Distribution facility will be closed by February 2013.

Quincy Mayor John Spring received notification from Quincy Postmaster Peggy Beck on Tuesday that the USPS says it will save $1.3 million by closing the Quincy facility and dividing the work between facilities in Springfield, Illinois and Columbia, Missouri.

The service's regional spokeswoman Valarie Hughes said that starting this month, Illinois mail in the “623” zip code will be processed in Springfield and in February 2013, mail in northeast Missouri zip codes starting with “634” and “635” will be processed in Columbia.

Beck says part of the transfer will be completed by the end of this month and finalized by February of next year. The timetable is actually moved up as two months ago the USPS said the transfer would last to 2014.

“Any staffing actions taken will be in compliance with applicable law, collective bargaining agreements and Postal Service regulations and policies,” Beck wrote in her letter to Spring.

About 60 employees are affected.

Spring said he has spoken with local Union officials who question how the USPS has arrived at the $1.3 million in savings number.