Processing center still slated to close April 18

The Flandro Drive mail processing center in Pocatello is just one month away from closure and it now looks like efforts to save it are failing.

Monday night, Pocatello city leaders held a town hall meeting, at which the American Postal Workers Union said the closure would affect 56 jobs.

“When a job is lost in a community, there’s a ripple down effect. Other jobs are lost,” said LaNae Parkin, with the union.

Starting April 18, the U.S. Postal Service all local mail will be sent to the Salt Lake City center for processing, while the Flandro Drive location will remain open as a post office.

This is part of a plan to consolidate 82 processing centers nationwide, which USPS said would save $750 million.

But many postal customers have been critical of the proposal.

“How does it save time and money when they have to send it clear down to Salt Lake for it to just come right back here?” said Hailey Stephens.

USPS said delivery times won’t change and that it will still take two days to receive a standard first-class letter. But not everyone is convinced.

Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad insists it will take at least three to five days.