The U.S. Postal Service has decided to end mail processing at seven Kansas centers, including Hays.

Hays, Hutchinson, Salina and Dodge City processing will be transferred to Wichita. Colby processing will be transferred to North Platte, Nebraska, while Liberal processing will be transferred to Amarillo, Texas and Topeka processing will be transferred to Kansas City.

Thursday’s announcement comes after five months of study and public meetings.

No timetable has been announced.

The post office’s retail and business functions will not change.

U.S. Postal Service Chief Operating Officer Megan Brennan says “The decision to consolidate mail processing facilities recognizes the urgent need to reduce the size of the national mail processing network to eliminate costly underutilized infrastructure.”