LEXINGTON — Former mayor Bobby McGuire said as long as he can remember there has been a post office in the town.

"From what I understand, we've had a post office here since the early 1800s," said McGuire.

But the post office on Alabama 101 near the intersection of Stevens Street could soon be closed.

According to officials with the U.S. Postal Service, Lexington's post office is being evaluated for a possible change in service or even closure.

"We still use a lot of paper mail around here," Lexington Mayor Tim Collier said.

"Here at City Hall, we're constantly using the post office. We do a lot of mail-outs with water bills and other items. This town needs the post office."

Lexington Police Chief Augie Hendershot said he goes by the post office several times a day and it's always busy.

"I just don't understand the reasoning why it is going to be evaluated," Hendershot said.

According to Postal Service officials, the post office has been soliciting community input through a survey to help determine the best course of action for the Lexington office.

The results of the survey will be revealed during a town meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Town Hall.

Debra Fetterley, a communications specialist for the US Postal Service for Alabama and North Florida, said the public is urged to attend the meeting.

The options being considered for the town's post office include:

• keeping the office open but reducing the hours of operation.

• closing the office; home delivery would continue.

• closing the office and contracting with a local business to sell stamps and flat-rate products.

• closing the office and providing postal box service at a nearby post office.

• "The post office is important to our community," McGuire said.

"We need it to stay the way it is."

Collier said a many residents depend on the post office.

"That's why it's important that as many people as possible come out Tuesday and help is show how important it is to us," he said.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.