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UPDATED: February 23 at 10:13 p.m.

The nationwide postal services consolidation finally hit home Thursday.

Several employees at the Quincy Mail Processing and Distribution Center were notified they will lose their jobs.

A U.S. Postal Service Spokeswoman said the facility will consolidate with a Columbia, Missouri operation.

She believed that about ten positions will be eliminated.

There are a total 157 employees in all postal operations throughout Quincy.

There are fifty five positions in the processing plant.

Senator Dick Durbin was in town this afternoon and said employees at the facility shouldn't start looking for new jobs just yet.

"Here's what it come down to," Senator Dick Durbin said. "I brought the post mater general in my office just six weeks ago and I said 'give us until May 15th to pass a law which will save money for the postal service and keep them moving in the right direction if we don't get it done, we'll have to go with your plan...at least give congress this chance'."

Senator Durbin said no layoffs or transfers for employees will be made until May 15th.

He hopes congress can create a bill to protect postal facilities like Quincy's, by then.

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ORIGINAL STORY: February 23 at 10:59 a.m.

A number of employees at the Quincy mail processing and distribution were notified today that they will lose their jobs as part of a nationwide consolidation of postal operations.

A U.S. Postal Service Spokeswoman said that much of the Quincy center's processing and distribution will be folded in to the Columbia, Mo. Operations.

“The Post Office, the retail window where you walk in and buy your stamps, that's remaining,” spokeswoman Valerie Welsch said. “The business mail entry unit will remain in Quincy.”

There were 212 mail processing facilities that underwent a feasibility study, and of those, 183 have been found feasible for consolidation or closure, she said.

Welsch didn't have a specific number of jobs affected by the consolidation decision, but said that she believed that about 10 positions will be eliminated.

“This all came about so quickly that we've all been scrambling,” she said.

There are a total 157 employees in all postal operations throughout Quincy. There are 55 positions in the processing plant.

The U.S. Postal Service is expected to lose a record $14.1 billion this year as increased Internet use reduces mail volume, according to the Associated Press.