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Don Bentz does not want the U.S. Postal Service to move its outgoing mail processing operations from Wheeling to Pittsburgh - even if the postal service said it can save $527,000 a year by doing so.

"Mail going from Wheeling to Charleston, or Wheeling to Steubenville, will take two days instead of just one," said Bentz, president of the Wheeling Area Local of American Postal Workers Union.

The postal service recently completed its Area Mail Processing study that shows the struggling organization can save the $527,000 by moving its outgoing operations from Wheeling to Pittsburgh. The service expects only six employee positions to be affected by the proposed move, rather than the 25-30 Bentz had feared.

"Due to the consolidation, a net decrease of approximately six positions is projected. All reassignments will be made in accordance with collective bargaining agreements," the report that resulted from the study states.

Tad Kelley, postal service spokesman, has said the six employees will be offered positions elsewhere within the corporation. He could not, however, be reached for further comment.

"I want to know how they think they are going to save that much money. If they are not cutting people, they are still going to have to pay those people, no matter where they are working," Bentz said.

Bentz added that many pieces of mail that currently receive Wheeling postmarks would be stamped with Pittsburgh postmarks.

Kelly, however, said this is not much of a problem because customers will still be able to receive a Wheeling postmark by going to the retail counter to specifically ask for one.

"How busy is the retail counter going to be if everybody has to go in to get a postmark? ... People like having a West Virginia postmark and don't want one from Pennsylvania," Bentz said.

According to the processing study, "Collection box pick-up times will not change." It also states that "Delivery of mail to residences and businesses will not change as a result of the (study)."

A public meeting regarding the matter is set for 7 p.m. Jan. 13 in the Wheeling Park High School auditorium. Western Pennsylvania District Manager Charles P. McCreadie and members of his staff will be on hand to deliver presentations and field questions regarding the possible move.

Comments can also be mailed until Jan. 28 to: Consumer Affairs Manager, Western PA District, 1001 California Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15290-1007.

"If we get enough people to the meeting, we could influence their decision," Bentz said.

Wheeling City Council unanimously approved a resolution asking the postal service to keep the processing jobs in Wheeling. U.S. Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, both D-W.Va., also mailed a letter to McCreadie to request the service retain its operations in the Friendly City.