Cory Martin (center), regional director at the Goshen office of U. S. Congressman Mark Souder, discussed changes at the Bristol post office with audience members at the December 17 meeting of the Bristol Town Council. Bill Wuthrich (left), town manager, and Tom Stutsman (right), president of the council, are pictured with Cory. Photo by Jim Nickel.

Cory Martin, regional director for Rep. Mark Souder, attended the December 17 meeting of the Bristol Town Council (BTC). About 20 members of the audience interacted with him for an hour about proposed and possible changes at the Bristol post office.

Cory manages the Goshen office for Rep. Souder. He can be reached there by phone at 533-5802 or by e-mail at cory.martin@mail.house.gov. One reason he became involved in the local issue is that his boss, Rep. Souder, sits on the House of Representatives subcommittee that has oversight responsibility for the postal service.

Cory began by relating his conversations with representatives of the postal service, which he described as “cordial” and “very reassuring.” He was told that “there is absolutely no plan to close the Bristol post office.”

Concern arose in Bristol when it was announced that on January 16, 2010 the Bristol rural routes will be moved to the Elkhart post office. The plans to consolidate rural carrier routes in 30 Indiana post offices are intended to “save money,” Cory was told, a contention that met with some skepticism at the BTC meeting.

Since public reports indicated that $1.5 million would be saved in the northern Indiana region by route consolidations, Cory was asked to get a copy of the USPS document which led these decisions. It was stated that “there must be something in writing” regarding such a far-reaching “business decision.”

He was also told that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has a clear and open procedure that must be followed before any post office is closed. The process will include community notification and public meetings. Mark Souder’s office would be notified of any intended closure in his district. He and Cory Martin will make sure that the USPS follows proper procedures, if any intent to close the Bristol post office comes up in the future.

Cory said he asked USPS personnel about the three-month “opt-out” provision being sought in the new lease under negotiation for the Bristol post office building. He was told that this is a relatively new feature, and that it is being added to all lease renewals.

At a request from the group, Cory said he will try to find out if the rural route consolidations are being implemented only in offices that use leased buildings, and, if so, what ramifications that fact might suggest.

When Dan Watson indicated that 1,100 signatures had been obtained on petitions in favor of retaining the Bristol post office, Cory said he will find out where they should be directed for maximum impact.

Postal employees present at the meeting said that the Bristol post office ranks in the top five Indiana locations in “revenue per window,” and that it has consistently been rated very highly in customer satisfaction. Cory remarked that such factors would certainly be valid arguments to use, if any future attempt is made to close the local post office.