Central ND News

WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, along with Congressman Kelly Armstrong, have urged the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General to expand an ongoing postal audit in North Dakota. The delegation is requesting the inclusion of communities statewide and an examination of proposed changes to mail processing in the Bismarck and Grand Forks regions.

In a letter to U.S. Postal Service Inspector General Hull, the delegation expressed appreciation for the decision to include the Bismarck, Mandan, and Minot Post Offices in the audit. However, due to the wide range of postal issues across the state, they are calling for the expansion of the audit to include additional postal facilities in North Dakota.

The delegation highlighted concerns from constituents, including delays in mail and newspaper delivery, as well as broken and unavailable cluster box units. They also expressed ongoing concerns and questions regarding the USPS' proposal to relocate some mail processing in the Bismarck and Grand Forks region.

"USPS delivery standards must not only be maintained but improved, particularly in rural areas," the delegation emphasized. They acknowledged the hard work of USPS employees and recognized the challenges faced in filling open mail carrier positions. However, they stressed the need to find solutions to address and overcome these challenges.

The delegation's request for an expanded audit aims to ensure that the essential services provided by the USPS are reliable and efficient for all North Dakota residents. The full text of their letter can be found [here](link to the letter).

This call for an expanded postal audit comes in response to the ongoing challenges faced by the USPS in North Dakota. By including communities statewide and examining proposed changes to mail processing, the delegation hopes to address the concerns raised by their constituents and improve postal services in the state.