Central ND News

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Inspector General (IG) recently released an interim audit of facilities in Bismarck, Mandan, and Minot, revealing delayed mail and operational deficiencies. In response to the audit findings, the North Dakota delegation emphasized the need for improvements in postal services across the state.

“The USPS’s audit makes it clear that improvements are needed at postal facilities in Bismarck, Mandan, and Minot,” stated the delegation. “We will continue working to ensure USPS follows through on the recommended improvements and provides timely mail service in our state.”

The interim audit recommended various measures to enhance operations, including proper resource allocation at manual letter and flat operations units, as well as training employees on correct procedures. Additionally, the audit highlighted the importance of verifying mail sorting to meet dispatch schedules at the Bismarck Processing and Distribution Center.

Earlier this year, the delegation advocated for the inclusion of North Dakota communities in the postal audit of the Minnesota-North Dakota District. As a result, the IG committed to auditing postal facilities in Dickinson, Grand Forks, and Fargo as part of the upcoming full district audit report to be released in May.

The North Dakota delegation also raised specific concerns to the USPS IG, requesting additional facilities to be included in the audit. These concerns ranged from mail and newspaper delays to broken cluster box units and questions regarding mail processing relocation proposals in Bismarck and Grand Forks.

Following discussions with the delegation, the USPS IG initiated a review of the nationwide effort to relocate mail processing facilities, addressing concerns raised by constituents in Bismarck and Grand Forks. The upcoming IG report is anticipated to evaluate the Mail Processing Facility Reviews process and provide recommendations for improvement.

As the USPS continues to address operational challenges in North Dakota, the delegation remains committed to advocating for enhanced postal services and ensuring timely mail delivery for residents across the state.