IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – In a bid to safeguard the Kingsford Mail Processing Center in the Upper Peninsula, federal lawmakers, led by Senator Gary Peters, are exerting pressure on the United States Postmaster General to halt changes that threaten its operations.
Senator Peters, following a committee meeting with Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, emphasized the need to maintain 1-day mail service in the U.P. Citing data from cities like Richmond and Atlanta, Peters underscored the inefficiency of recent postal changes. He urged the Postmaster General to exercise caution when implementing plans that could impact rural communities, and ensure performance metrics are met. Senator Peters signaled that there is a possibility for the Postal Regulatory Commission to intervene. With a deadline of May 1st for the Postmaster to provide crucial information, Peters aims to address the pressing issues facing mail delivery in the Upper Peninsula.
An aid for Senator Peters’ office shared further details with what to expect from the United States Postal Service: “Usually, the PRC [Postal Regulatory Commission] must study and issue an opinion – which is public –within 90 days after USPS submits the proposal. While Peters has pushed for this process to begin, it has not yet, so we do not yet know the timeline. As Peters emphasized on the press call, he is pushing for this study to be comprehensive in order to understand the impacts, and emphasized that the Advisory Opinion process – and any further study by USPS – should look closely at the plan’s impact on rural areas and local service, in places such as the UP.’
Senator Peters is urging the Postal Service to request the advisory by the next Postal Board of Governors meeting on May 9th.
WZMQ is working to hear the local Postal Union President’s comments following the hearing.
