Houghton County Shows Support for the Kingsford USPS Processing Facility

Houghton County shows support for the USPS Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center in Kingsford. Last week the Houghton County Commission approved a resolution showing support for keeping the regional mail processing center open after the postal service announced earlier in the year plans to review the facility’s operations. The review is part of a 10-year, 40 million-dollar plan to modernize mail services across the country, with hopes to make delivery more efficient. County Administrator Ben Larson explained to the commission that the potential shutdown of the facility could disrupt deliveries to residents throughout the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin.

“For instance, for Jen to mail something from here to Hancock. Jen would mail it, the envelope would go from here to Milwaukee, and then it would go to Hancock many days later. So I think it’s terrible for veterans’ medications. I think it’s terrible for veterans’ paychecks. A lot of people don’t use electronic media to do their banking and other things. So people still have the confidence to put that stamp in the top corner. And this is tough for Dickinson County and the whole UP, but they’ve asked us to ask, would we support that? We’re not in great favor of closing the Kingsford Post Office, but. In addition to the job loss, I just think about the things that people still count on the mail for. So that comes from the Dickinson County Board has made that plea to you. You support them saying this is a bad choice.” – Ben Larson, County Administrator, Houghton County

At a public information meeting earlier this month officials said that potentially converting the facility into a local processing facility will keep the location open, nor will it result in lost jobs. Attendees noted that the postal service recently had not given much of a warning to the community when the decision to cut back mail truck pick-up was made. Greatly impacts next-day mail delivery services, which are vital to residents and veterans receiving medications in the mail. The United States Postal Service will continue to accept written public comment on the facility until tomorrow. Submit a public comment on the Kingsford facility here.