Postal Service To Close Kansas Facilities Quickly

Six Kansas mail processing centers are among 252 facilities the postal service is looking to close to avert bankruptcy next year.

David Williams, postal vice president, said the agency wants to move quickly to close the centers, and slow first-class delivery next spring.

The postal service is recommending closing facilities in Colby, Dodge City, Hays, Hutchinson, Liberal and Salina.

Williams says the postal service is not "writing off first class mail" but that it must respond to new market realities in which people are turning more to the Internet for email communications and bill payment

After reaching a peak in 2006, first-class mail volume is now at 78 million. It is projected to drop by roughly half by 2020.