The residents of Hye have been waiting to hear from the United States Postal Service on the fate of their local post office. The Hye Post Office, which serves the town of 105 located on the border of Blanco and Gillespie counties, is on the list of more than 3,600 post offices on the chopping block.

Last week the USPS issued a statement that the service, in response to a request made by multiple U.S. Senators, has agreed to delay the closing or consolidation of any Post Office or mail processing facility until May 15, 2012.

“The Postal Service will continue all necessary steps required for the review of these facilities during the interim period,” the statement said, “including public input meetings.”

“USPS hopes this period will help facilitate the enactment of comprehensive postal legislation,” concluded the release. “Given the Postal Service’s financial situation and the loss of mail volume, the Postal Service must continue to take all steps necessary to reduce costs and increase revenue.”

The residents of Hye haven’t been quietly waiting for news of the service’s decision. The non-profit Hye Preservation Society is leading the campaign to save the post office. In September, they held a town hall meeting at the barrel barn at Garrison Brothers Distillery; the meeting was Hye’s one chance to speak to a representative from USPS.

Since then, they’ve submitted comments and contacted USPS representatives to advocate keeping the Hye Post Office open. (The society’s non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)3 status means the members must not attempt to influence legislation.)

Lou Klegin, with the USPS in San Antonio, issued a bulletin on December 5 to the customers of the Hye Post Office. The message stated that the postal service appreciated the views submitted by the customers in regard to the closure of the post office.

“These comments will be considered carefully as the matter is reviewed further in my office and at higher levels within the Postal Service,” stated the message. “When a final decision is made by the Postal Service, that decision will be posted in place of this notice. If the decision is to approve the proposal, any customer of the Hye Post Office who disagrees will have the right to appeal that decision to the Postal Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C.”

“I don’t speak for this community but can assure you that I personally will take every action necessary to keep the Hye Post Office operational,” said Dan Garrison in a posting to the society’s Facebook group. “We at the Hye Preservation Society intend to scale every hurdle the Postal Service puts in our way to keep it alive.”

Garrison is serving as interim President of the HPS. He has called an open meeting for January 19 to discuss the future of the organization beyond the Save Hye Post Office campaign. Nominations will be taken from the floor for permanent board positions and will close on January 31, at which time ballots will be distributed to the membership for a vote. Those interested in filing should read Garrison’s detailed posting on the HPS Facebook page or on the community board at the Hye Post Office.

The Hye Preservation Society can be reached at PO Drawer 292, Hye, Texas 78635 or on Facebook (search for Hye Preservation Society).

The local rural communities of Doss and Willow City are also on the post office closure list.