To the editor:

This is in response to your Dec. 10 story, "Mail Delivery Could Take Drastic Hit."

To better serve our customers, improve productivity and increase efficiency, the U.S. Postal Service must constantly examine how it can improve operations to meet increasing and changing customer needs. Key to this effort is identifying where and when it can best take advantage of technological advances in mail processing and distribution to improve overall operations and customer service.

Mail volume has taken a beating from the recession and a change in consumer behavior. We are seeing more electronic bill-pay, more documents sent through e-mail, and more online catalogs. Obviously, this means less mail volume for us to process. Less volume directly translates into less revenue. Since we don't operate using tax dollars, we have to be fiscally prudent.

More than 30 AMP studies are currently underway nationwide. At this time, we're only reviewing local mail processing operations in London, KY. However, if a decision is made to consolidate I can assure you customers would not notice a change in service.

An audit conducted by the Office of the Inspector General found the recent consolidation of the Canton, OH and Akron, OH plants to be a prudent business decision that improved delivery service and resulted in a cost savings of $2.3 million.

Our service scores are at an all-time high. Maintaining and improving upon the same high level of service our customers currently enjoy is a high priority for the Postal Service.

Jerry S. Cronic

Senior Plant Manager

Kentuckiana District

1420 Gardiner Lane

Louisville, KY