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There’s no doubt about it, the U.S. Post Office is in trouble and to meet their financial woes head-on the Postmaster General has come up with a radical plan to cut costs and services in order to remain solvent.
Small post offices have been targeted to close. In the Lake Region two already have, Warwick and York, and several more are being studied for closure. Not too long ago the community of Starkweather was the target of closure.
Now the Devils Lake Post Office is part of a long list of over 200 post offices where services might be downgraded. Initially Minot and Grand Forks post offices were on the list, as well. These post offices would lose mail processing operations.
According to Rickie Kunzweiler, Lead Plant Manager for the Dakotas District of the U.S. Post Office somehow Grand Forks was taken off that list. She couldn’t say how or why, just that it no longer is slated to lose it’s mail processing operations.
Devils Lake, however, remains on the list.
Kunzweiler read an opening statement claiming that customers would see little change in the postal service. She also claimed the move would only effect three employees at the Devils Lake plant. One position would end and two would be relocated possibly to the Grand Forks plant that would have to take on two additional workers to accomplish its work as a mail processing center.
Kunzweiler emphasized how important public input was to the decision making process. “That’s why we are here, to take down what you say, your questions and statements. It will all be taken into consideration when the final decisions are made,” she said.
Presently the Post Office cannot do anything because of a moratorium imposed by Congress. That moratorium is lifted May 15.
She emphasized they are not funded by the federal government, although they are closely regulated by the government and they are not looking for a government “bail out.”
Plenty of governmental representatives were present at the meeting with representatives from Senators Conrad and Hoeven’s offices and Rep. Berg’s office attending and taking notes.
District 15 Representatives Curt Hofstad and Dennis Johnson and Sen. Dave Oehlke were also present.
Mayor Dick Johnson represented the Devils Lake City Commission and made a statement asking the Post Office to reconsider its decision and speaking in opposition to the proposal.
President Bill Mertens and fellow Ramsey County Commissioners Ed Brown, Joe Belford and Mark Olson were present at the meeting, as well. Both Mertens and Olson gave statements for the record. Mertens presented an official letter from the county commission in opposition to the proposal.
Although attendance at the input meeting was light, approximately 40 people, they will take written comments until January 19.
Kunzweiler said it was important for everyone to give their input and it would be taken into consideration when the decisions were made following the lifting of the moratorium.
Send your comments to – Manager, Consumer and Industry Contact, Dakotas District, P.O. Box 7570, Sioux Falls, SD 57117-7570.
For more photos from this event, go to "Photos" on this website.
There’s no doubt about it, the U.S. Post Office is in trouble and to meet their financial woes head-on the Postmaster General has come up with a radical plan to cut costs and services in order to remain solvent.
Small post offices have been targeted to close. In the Lake Region two already have, Warwick and York, and several more are being studied for closure. Not too long ago the community of Starkweather was the target of closure.
Now the Devils Lake Post Office is part of a long list of over 200 post offices where services might be downgraded. Initially Minot and Grand Forks post offices were on the list, as well. These post offices would lose mail processing operations.
According to Rickie Kunzweiler, Lead Plant Manager for the Dakotas District of the U.S. Post Office somehow Grand Forks was taken off that list. She couldn’t say how or why, just that it no longer is slated to lose it’s mail processing operations.
Devils Lake, however, remains on the list.
Kunzweiler read an opening statement claiming that customers would see little change in the postal service. She also claimed the move would only effect three employees at the Devils Lake plant. One position would end and two would be relocated possibly to the Grand Forks plant that would have to take on two additional workers to accomplish its work as a mail processing center.
Kunzweiler emphasized how important public input was to the decision making process. “That’s why we are here, to take down what you say, your questions and statements. It will all be taken into consideration when the final decisions are made,” she said.
Presently the Post Office cannot do anything because of a moratorium imposed by Congress. That moratorium is lifted May 15.
She emphasized they are not funded by the federal government, although they are closely regulated by the government and they are not looking for a government “bail out.”
Plenty of governmental representatives were present at the meeting with representatives from Senators Conrad and Hoeven’s offices and Rep. Berg’s office attending and taking notes.
District 15 Representatives Curt Hofstad and Dennis Johnson and Sen. Dave Oehlke were also present.
Mayor Dick Johnson represented the Devils Lake City Commission and made a statement asking the Post Office to reconsider its decision and speaking in opposition to the proposal.
President Bill Mertens and fellow Ramsey County Commissioners Ed Brown, Joe Belford and Mark Olson were present at the meeting, as well. Both Mertens and Olson gave statements for the record. Mertens presented an official letter from the county commission in opposition to the proposal.
Although attendance at the input meeting was light, approximately 40 people, they will take written comments until January 19.
Kunzweiler said it was important for everyone to give their input and it would be taken into consideration when the decisions were made following the lifting of the moratorium.
Send your comments to – Manager, Consumer and Industry Contact, Dakotas District, P.O. Box 7570, Sioux Falls, SD 57117-7570.
For more photos from this event, go to "Photos" on this website.
