The Centerville post office was put on the U.S. Postal Service’s “ branch consolidation list” last year. The list denotes which post offices nationwide are being considered for closure.
According to the financially strapped Postal Service, “The process is to determine where consolidations might be feasible without compromising customer access to postal services.”
The Postal Service announced in March that, due to the economy and the increase in electronic communications, it is facing a projected $238 billion shortfall in the next decade.
David Walton, spokesperson for the Cincinnati District of the U.S. Postal Service, said he understood why residents who come to the conclusion that the Centerville branch was being closed down.
“I would probably think the same thing if my office was on the ‘hit list,’ ” said Walton, who apologized for the condition of the site.
Initially, five Dayton-area post offices were on the list, but three of the five were removed late last year. The two that remain are at 99 Maple Ave. in Centerville and 10 N. Williams St. in Dayton.
Walton said there is no timetable for the decision on whether to close those sites, but added that Centerville customers were heard when they sent in more than 2,000 comments in favor of keeping that post office open.
However, Walton said the site’s close proximity (2.2 miles) to the Washington Twp. branch on Paragon Road is a big reason the Centerville post office is still on the list.
Lee Withers, customer relations coordinator for the Dayton postmaster, said that when the Washington Twp. branch was built in the 1990s, there was consideration given to whether the Centerville post office should be maintained.
“That store was what we call ‘a store of the future,’ with its expanded retail and so on,” Withers said. “But here we are, 13 to 14 years later, and things are at a very critical state right now. But it is not a done deal by any means.”
Richard Rentz, who owns the property that houses the Centerville post office, said the site was built in 1971.
“Obviously, if they close this post office, people will still use a post office — either the one on Paragon or the one in Kettering,” Rentz said. “The people of Centerville would love to keep this one open because of the convenience.”
Washington Twp. resident Connie Desbiens said she prefers using the Centerville post office.
“At the one on Paragon, it is hard to get waited on,” she said. “And the one on Stroop is a nightmare.”
As for the poor maintenance at the site that sparked the most recent concerns, it has since been addressed. Withers said recent management changes and subsequent miscommunication were to blame.
He assured residents it would be taken care of in the future.
“We certainly apologize for allowing that image to continue,” he said. “We know (customers) are very concerned about the Centerville branch. We are, too.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley @DaytonDailyNews.com.
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