Mail distribution operations moving to Grand Junction

By Dennis Webb
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Following months of study, the U.S. Postal Service has decided to proceed with closing a Glenwood Springs regional mail distribution facility and moving its operations to Grand Junction.

The Postal Service said today the transition will be completed by October, and affected career employees will be reassigned to other vacant positions.

It is making the move to help save money following a 20 percent drop in national mail volume since 2007. The move would take advantage of more advanced automation at the Grand Junction distribution center on Burkey Street.

The Glenwood facility employed 37 people as of early this year. It handles about 300,000 pieces of mail a day. An initial study found the consolidation would save $1.2 million a year and result in the loss of 19 positions.

Postal Service spokesman Al DeSarro said some customer-service positions from the Glenwood facility would be moved to the post office there. The consolidation also is expected to result in at least some additional jobs at the Grand Junction site, but the number has yet to be determined.