Postal Service will delay processing center decision
By Bret Hayworth Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, June 23, 2006
The U.S. Postmaster General sent a letter this week to the Northwest Iowa congressional delegation saying the Postal Service will delay a decision on whether to move Sioux City's mail processing and distribution center to Sioux Falls.
Postmaster General John Potter said no decision will come until the Inspector General of the USPS audits the completed feasibility study, a step that was announced last week.
At risk are the jobs at the processing center, located in the southern industrial area of Sioux City. There has been uncertainty about the center since late 2005, when the Postal Service announced it was one of 51 nationally undergoing a feasibility study to determine if moving duties could result in better overall mail delivery efficiency.
At an April town hall meeting -- one of the steps asked for by the delegation of U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin and Charles Grassley and Congressman Steve King -- postal officials said 47 of the roughly 100 Sioux City distribution center employees could be reassigned to Sioux Falls or moved to part-time status at the Sioux City center as the result of the study.
The inspector general is independent of the Postal Service and serves as a watchdog. The audit could take several months. Potter sent the letter to the three federal lawmakers, and said upon receipt of the audit findings, "we will make a final decision on the Sioux City study and notify your office accordingly."
"This is good news for Sioux City," Grassley said. "The Sioux City community has done a good job of stating the case for a complete look at the initial proposal by the postal service. Today's news ensures that a full, independent review will occur before a final decision is made."
Harkin said the Postal Service has previously "failed to consider the consolidation's true costs and impact on the community," and said he was "pleased that this decision is being put on hold."
King said, "I hope the inspector general's audit gives the Postal Service and the people of Sioux City the information we need to know if the study is legitimate."
Potter said the Postal Service is carrying out its "long and successful history of improving operational efficiencies and making service improvements to our national mail processing network."
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
Postmaster General John Potter said no decision will come until the Inspector General of the USPS audits the completed feasibility study, a step that was announced last week.
At risk are the jobs at the processing center, located in the southern industrial area of Sioux City. There has been uncertainty about the center since late 2005, when the Postal Service announced it was one of 51 nationally undergoing a feasibility study to determine if moving duties could result in better overall mail delivery efficiency.
At an April town hall meeting -- one of the steps asked for by the delegation of U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin and Charles Grassley and Congressman Steve King -- postal officials said 47 of the roughly 100 Sioux City distribution center employees could be reassigned to Sioux Falls or moved to part-time status at the Sioux City center as the result of the study.
The inspector general is independent of the Postal Service and serves as a watchdog. The audit could take several months. Potter sent the letter to the three federal lawmakers, and said upon receipt of the audit findings, "we will make a final decision on the Sioux City study and notify your office accordingly."
"This is good news for Sioux City," Grassley said. "The Sioux City community has done a good job of stating the case for a complete look at the initial proposal by the postal service. Today's news ensures that a full, independent review will occur before a final decision is made."
Harkin said the Postal Service has previously "failed to consider the consolidation's true costs and impact on the community," and said he was "pleased that this decision is being put on hold."
King said, "I hope the inspector general's audit gives the Postal Service and the people of Sioux City the information we need to know if the study is legitimate."
Potter said the Postal Service is carrying out its "long and successful history of improving operational efficiencies and making service improvements to our national mail processing network."
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
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Jeff wrote on Jun 23, 2006 1:20 PM:
ruth wrote on Jun 23, 2006 11:00 AM: