Plant City rallies to save downtown post office

Residents determined to save the downtown Plant City post office packed a June 16 community meeting and challenged federal officials to explore all options before closing the 74-year-old facility.

U.S. Postal Service officials said the downtown facility is one of many facing closing to cut overhead for the independent federal agency that has "suffered tremendously" during the recession, combating rising costs and sagging revenue due to severe declines in volume attributed to e-mail and other Internet conveniences.

"This is an analysis that's going on nationwide," postal service assets specialist David Ashley said of the agency's evaluation of underutilized facilities to be eliminated.

"We have no secrets," Ashley said at the start of the meeting. "There's nothing we're trying to do underhandedly."

In Plant City, the proposal is to move the 940 rented downtown post office boxes to the city's main post office at 2501 Walden Woods Drive, 2.6 miles away, and open a downtown "contract postal unit" offering all the retail services of the full-size counterpart.

Officials at the meeting insisted there is no decision to close the post office at 301 W. Reynolds St., across from City Hall, though many residents remained unconvinced.

"It may appear that way," but no decision has been made, said Gary Sawtelle, a Tampa-based spokesman for the agency. "We do have the green light to proceed," however.

"A space optimization analysis" of all postal facilities identified the downtown Plant City post office as an "underutilized asset" that can be disposed of, said Ashley of the real estate division of the agency's Southeast headquarters near Atlanta.

"It's a process," he said. "They have to go through the process before a decision can be made," which includes receiving public comment, which was the purpose of the community meting at Bruton Memorial Library.

"We have this huge facility," Ashley said of the 17,359-square-foot post office and two parking lots totaling another 27,615 square feet. There have been inquiries about the property which, at this time, is not listed for sale, he said.

A half-dozen people in the capacity crowd of 100 said Plant City is unique and worth all efforts to save its 1935 downtown post office.

"It sounds like you already made up your mind," said Lynn Connor, owner of Tip to Toe Day Spa & Gifts. "There are people here who can help you remedy this situation."

Said real estate broker Wayne Wiggins, "This room is filled because no one wants to see the post office close." He urged considering downsizing or other cost-cutting measures to retain a downtown post office.

"Are you willing to meet with a group of people?" he asked, suggesting Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce representatives and other concerned residents.

Wiggins was among those who stayed for the entire two-hour meting and approached postal officials at the conclusion to push for a second meeting.

"We're going to plan a meeting and talk about what solutions may be available, talk about mutual needs," Sawtelle later said. That would be scheduled after the 10-day period for receiving questionnaires, mailed to box holders at the downtown post office, and available at the counter there, Sawtelle said.

Chamber President Marion Smith handed over petitions signed by nearly 4,000 residents opposed to closing the downtown post office. She said she agreed with those who said a smaller downtown post office would reduce costs and still meet the community's needs. Bottom line, Smith said, "The citizens of Plant City, they want a downtown post office."

"Plant City worked very hard to not lose its post office downtown," chamber of commerce Chairman Ed Verner told officials. The facility will become even more necessary once Hillsborough County completes its new, more spacious Plant City courthouse, generating additional law offices and similar professional businesses, he said.