UNION – The U.S. Postal Service has asked Union residents whether the post office on Depot Street should be open fewer hours or closed altogether as the service downsizes rural locations in the face of declining demand.

Residents in the small village near Marengo had until Thursday to reply to a Postal Service mailer about the future of the post office at 17803 Depot St.

“We would like to preserve the post office presence there, with reduced hours,” said Sean Hargadon, spokesman for the Postal Service’s Northern Illinois District. “But there’s other available options to residents.”