By John Howell Sr.

Courtland postal customers are being asked if they would prefer to have the weekday service hours at the Courtland Post Office reduced or if they would like to have the post office closed altogether, according to a survey mailed last week.

Courtland postal patrons were mailed surveys from the U. S. Post Office seeking input on the future of the Courtland Post Office.

The Postal Service will also conduct a public hearing Monday, March 4 at Persimmon Hill Church, 2335 CR 35, Enid, at 6 p.m. “to answer questions and provide additional information,” the letter states.

The survey asks postal customers to choose their preference from options that range from reducing weekday hours of operation at the office to conducting “discontinuance study,” which would close the facility. The letter requests that the survey be returned by Feb. 18.

The survey also asks customers to indicate their preference of hours of operation if the number of weekday window service hours are reduced from seven to six.

“Unless the community has a strong preference (more than 60 percent) for conducting a discontinuance study for the Courtland Post Office … the Postal Service intends to maintain the Courtland Post Office with 6 hours of window service each weekday, the letter to customers states. “Current Saturday window service hours and access to delivery receptacles will not change,” if weekday hours are changed.

“The Postal Service is also seeking locally established businesses or organizations to serve as contractor-operated postal retail units in communities like yours,” according to the letter. A contractor-operated postal unit would be an option if the survey indicates a preference to close the existing post office at Courtland.