Harkin provision to halt closure of mail center
07/19/2006 01:12:29 PM
By Bret Hayworth Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, July 19, 2006
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin on Wednesday announced he had included a provision in a transportation appropriations bill that would halt the U.S. Postal Service from consolidating mail processing facilities, including Sioux City's, until a government oversight entity completes a follow-up report.
The Government Accountability Office is undertaking a follow-up to the 2005 USPS feasibility study to consolidate the Sioux City mail processing facilities elsewhere, most likely Sioux Falls. The USPS study was discussed in a town hall meeting in April, and since that time the Northwest Iowa congressional delegation and city officials have contended the study was flawed and so sought a more complete look at the Sioux City facility.
At stake are roughly 100 Sioux City jobs at the processing facility, which is located in the southern industrial park area. The USPS feasibility study showed Sioux Falls has technology advancements that are more cost effective and improve productivity, such as an automated flat sorting machine, material handling system and parcel sorting capacity. Postal officials in April 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.
Expressing strong concern about the way USPS is proceeding in mulling consolidations of 51 mail facilities nationwide, Harkin secured the provision in the transportation bill Wednesday. It is not binding law that the consolidations cannot not take place until the GAO finishes the studies, but it is the recommendation of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Harkin said such recommendations are generally followed by federal agencies like the postal service.
"The postal service ought to have a better and more complete method for making these decisions," Harkin said.
The GAO study is expected to be done in early 2007. Another look at postal services is underway, as the Inspector General of the USPS audits the completed Sioux City feasibility study. That step was announced in mid-June, and in late June U.S. Postmaster General John Potter sent a letter to the Northwest Iowa congressional delegation saying the Postal Service will delay a decision on moving Sioux City's mail processing and distribution center to Sioux Falls until the inspector general audit is done.
Watch video
Hear citizens and local officials discuss the future of the processing center at the April town hall meeting.
The Government Accountability Office is undertaking a follow-up to the 2005 USPS feasibility study to consolidate the Sioux City mail processing facilities elsewhere, most likely Sioux Falls. The USPS study was discussed in a town hall meeting in April, and since that time the Northwest Iowa congressional delegation and city officials have contended the study was flawed and so sought a more complete look at the Sioux City facility.
At stake are roughly 100 Sioux City jobs at the processing facility, which is located in the southern industrial park area. The USPS feasibility study showed Sioux Falls has technology advancements that are more cost effective and improve productivity, such as an automated flat sorting machine, material handling system and parcel sorting capacity. Postal officials in April 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.
Expressing strong concern about the way USPS is proceeding in mulling consolidations of 51 mail facilities nationwide, Harkin secured the provision in the transportation bill Wednesday. It is not binding law that the consolidations cannot not take place until the GAO finishes the studies, but it is the recommendation of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Harkin said such recommendations are generally followed by federal agencies like the postal service.
"The postal service ought to have a better and more complete method for making these decisions," Harkin said.
The GAO study is expected to be done in early 2007. Another look at postal services is underway, as the Inspector General of the USPS audits the completed Sioux City feasibility study. That step was announced in mid-June, and in late June U.S. Postmaster General John Potter sent a letter to the Northwest Iowa congressional delegation saying the Postal Service will delay a decision on moving Sioux City's mail processing and distribution center to Sioux Falls until the inspector general audit is done.
Watch video
Hear citizens and local officials discuss the future of the processing center at the April town hall meeting.
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Mike wrote on Aug 2, 2006 5:52 PM:
Chris wrote on Jul 19, 2006 1:52 PM: