Iowa delegation gets commitment from Postmaster General for information and, potentially, additional consideration
WASHINGTON – Iowa’s senators and Rep. Steve King today met with the Postmaster General about the Sioux City mail processing center. The Iowa representatives in Congress sought the meeting to get answers about the Postal Service’s expressed intention to move this processing center to Sioux Falls.
Sens. Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin and King said that the Postmaster General told them the Postal Service will provide un-redacted data and other backup information about the study on which it’s basing this decision to local leaders in Sioux City for review. Then, the Postal Service's vice president for area operations will go to Sioux City for a meeting with local leaders. The Iowa representatives also said that the Postmaster General said the Sioux City community would have an opportunity to present a counter-proposal, the Postal Service would take a look, and the Postal Service could potentially reconsider its decision if there’s a significant breakthrough.
“The local community deserves to have its voice heard and to make a case to the Postal Service,” Grassley said. “The goal of this meeting was to open that door. It should never have been shut.”
“This is a small victory for this community, but a victory nonetheless for residents who have not had their voices heard, up to this point. It is imperative that Western Iowa’s citizens, businesses and workers are able to review and respond to all information surrounding the Postal Service’s decision. Finally, this community will have some of the answers they have been seeking,” Harkin said.
“This was an important meeting. For the first time since the proposed consolidation was announced, Sioux City's business and community leaders will have the chance to review the data and rationale the Postal Service is relying upon to move Sioux City's mail processing operations to Sioux Falls. More importantly, Sioux City will have the opportunity to offer a counter proposal, which is something that should have happened long ago. I am pleased about the progress that was made today, and I look forward to continuing to work with Sioux City's leaders and our senators to ensure that the commitments made today are fulfilled,” King said.
