‘B.S.’ called at Postal Service public hearing

Possibly the last time a person in Fort Smith felt as uncomfortable as David Camp, he was being hauled into town by Bass Reeves.

Camp, the Arkansas manager for the U.S. Postal Service, was in Fort Smith to attempt to explain why he proposes the general mail processing facility in Fort Smith be moved to Fayetteville.

The United States Postal Service announced Dec. 3 it is studying the option of closing the mail processing center in Fort Smith and consolidate the operations in Fayetteville. This marks yet another attempt by the USPS to close or consolidate the Fort Smith processing operation, which employs about 70.

In an about 20 minute presentation, Camp explained that his research indicated that closing the mail processing center in Fort Smith and consolidating the operations in Fayetteville will save $1.7 million a year and relocate 35 postal service jobs. Camp said the move would not result in Fort Smith losing its postmark, and would not result in a loss of service.

Camp, speaking to a crowd of about 200 gathered at the Holiday Inn City Center in downtown Fort Smith, explained that he has sent his data to the regional office in Dallas. They have up to 90 days to review his proposal before sending a recommendation to USPS headquarters in Washington D.C.

“Tonight is your opportunity to share your comments and concerns,” Camp told the crowd before entering the Q&A portion of the public hearing.

The crowd, comprised primarily of postal workers, needed no encouragement from Camp.

One of the postal workers present asked Camp if he would explain how the USPS could save $1.7 million by closing a facility without eliminating employees and “hauling all that mail back and forth to Fayetteville.”

“No,” was Camp’s response. He said the data is not open to the public until after the Dallas office reviews it.

Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders said “any degradation of service is totally unacceptable.” After waiting a few seconds for the applause to diminish, Sanders continued, saying he “does not believe” Camp’s statement that service will not suffer as a result of the move.

“I question the credibility of the results,” Sanders said of Camp’s research, adding that the “does not fully trust” a process that does not allow postal workers and community leaders to see Camp’s data until after the Dallas office has reviewed it and made a recommendation.

One of the more compelling arguments of the public hearing came from Jack Dunn, facilities manager for Golden Living’s corporate headquarters in Fort Smith. Golden Living — formerly Beverly Enterprises — is one of the largest providers of healthcare services in the nation. The company has more than 40,000 employees and a daily patient census of more than 60,000 patients.

Dunn said the company has, at great expense, invested in printing and mail sorting equipment at its Fort Smith headquarters. The delivery of more than 2 million pieces of mail a year is critical to the business, Dunn said. He said a delay in the delivery of mail could cost the company “hundreds of thousands (of dollars) a day.”

“That is unacceptable to us,” Dunn said, and then asked Camp for a “guarantee” that the mail service would not suffer if it had to be shipped to Fayetteville.

“Can I tell you today that I can guarantee? No,” Camp said.

But Camp followed the response by saying Dunn’s input and other concerns will be weighed against the economic factors he has proposed for consolidating the mail processing services.

To his credit, Camp encouraged those who commented against his recommendation, and noted several times during the 90-minute public hearing that officials in Dallas will review their input.

Several of those who spoke asked Camp why instead he didn’t decide to move the operations from Fayetteville to Fort Smith. They often noted that Fort Smith has more space for expansion is not as frequently impacted by wintry weather as is Fayetteville. Camp held his ground, saying he believed consolidating operations in Fayetteville made more economic sense.

Jim Meyers, an electronic technician with the USPS in Fort Smith, wasn’t convinced. In an about five-minute speech that frequently drew applause and laughter, Meyers said Camp’s claim that service in Fort Smith would not suffer “was big B.S.”

“It’s pathetic that you’re not looking at Fayetteville to move to Fort Smith,” Meyers said. “During the ice storm, guess who did their mail?”

And as if rehearsed, the crowd responded, “Fort Smith!”

Thomas Henry, the local postal 1211 union president, said after the hearing that a decision “is still in doubt.” He said citizens have until March 11 to submit their comments.

“At this point, it will take citizen opposition to change this,” Henry said. “I think the decision has been made (to close Fort Smith), and they (USPS officials) are trying to justify that decision. … If we get 200 comments we lose. But if we get 1,000 or more, maybe not.”

Those who want to comment in writing should forward comments to:
Consumer Affairs Manager
420 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205-9631