Retail Postal services in Gantt could be relocated, and the public’s input is needed, officials announced Monday.

According to a letter sent to Gantt Mayor Missy Grissett from USPS Real Estate Specialist Dallan C. Wordekemper, the organization is considering “relocating the retail services currently provided at the Gantt, Ala., Main Post Office at 29328 US Hwy 29 N, to a yet to-be-determined location as close as reasonably possible to the existing location.”

The primary reason for the relocation is that the Post Office lease at the current location will terminate on Sept. 30.

USPS will find a suitable substitute location, prepare it for use as a post office and then transition the retail postal functions to the new location.

Retail functions will continue at its current location until the new post office is up and running.

Public input is invited on Feb. 9, at 6 p.m., at Gantt Town Hall.

“The process begins with a meeting with local elected officials to discuss the project, followed by a public meeting to discuss the project with the community and solicit comments for 15 days, then the Postal Service evaluates the comments and makes an initial decision whether to proceed with the project,” Wordekemper said. “Anyone can appeal the decision during the following 30 days.”

If there are no appeals, or the final decision is to proceed with the project, then the process shifts to determining the relocation site.

“The Postal Service then notifies local officials and the community of the sites that are under consideration (and why the Postal Service rejected other sites) and invites comments for 30 days before selecting a site,” he said. “Then after reviewing the comments, if any, the Postal Service notifies local officials of the final site selection, but waits an additional 30 days before taking any final action to acquire or lease the site.”

For the last several years, the USPS has been working to reduce costs, and it continues to experience a net loss as mail volume continues to decline because of increased electronic communication.

The USPS must rely on the sale of postage, products and services to generate revenue since it is a self-supporting government agency.