Is the U.S. Postal Service planning to close Topaz Station?

Did you know they're closing the Topaz Post Office at Decatur and Rancho?" an anonymous caller asked in a voicemail message. "It isn't like last time where they got public input," he added. "They're just doing it."

Nevada's U.S. Postal Service media representative, David Rupert, said the office at 2675 N. Decatur Blvd. won't be closing. Retail operations will remain open, but carriers are scheduled to move their operations to other neighboring offices.

"It's just a move of the carriers," Rupert said in a telephone interview from his Colorado office.

Rupert said customers who use the post office may have received a postcard telling them they would be picking up packages and held mail at the Red Rock Station at 2449 N. Tenaya Way.

"But at the Topaz Station, you'll still be able to buy stamps and everything just like you used to."

Rupert said the move is part of the postal service's efforts to cut costs as it loses customers to email and the Internet. Closing the packaging section of the Topaz Station will save on utilities and upkeep, while keeping the counter service open will preserve convenience for customers.

"We're just trying to be a little smarter with our resources," he said.

Rupert said for now the Topaz Station is the only partial closure planned in the Las Vegas Valley.

"We're looking at all the offices down there, but right now that's the only one," he said.

-- Ginger Meurer, View