SMYRNA – Residents were alerted Wednesday that the Smyrna Post Office may be closing or consolidated, and a rural route carrier service implemented instead.

A letter arrived in customers’ mail and post office boxes asking them to consider a possible change to rural route service, and to express their opinion in a questionnaire due back within two weeks.

“The recommended change is tentative and will not lead to a formal proposal unless we conclude that it will provide a maximum degree of regular and effective service,” said New York State Post office Operations Manager Brian Shepardson.

The postmaster at the Smyrna Post office was reassigned three years ago. Now, the office is being studied for possible closing or consolidation to determine if service can be provided through alternative channels. A carrier service would provide pickup and delivery as well as the sale of stamps and all other customary postal services.

Not much more could be learned of the pending change despite calls to state postal service officials and interim postman Rick Collins. Smyrna Village Clerk/Treasurer Joyce Ann Fuller said she heard rumors about the post office closing a week ago, but the letters that arrived this week were ‘out of the blue.’