Hoeven: New Post Office Improvements to Benefit North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today announced that the United States Postal Service (USPS) will this week bring Mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) devices to six locations in North Dakota. This development follows Hoeven’s ongoing work with USPS, including advocating for the installation of mPOS, to improve service across North Dakota.

“I have been working hard to see that USPS increases and improves service across North Dakota, especially in the rapidly growing western portion of the state, and I am encouraged by USPS’ decision to add new, smart technology to several locations in our state,” said Hoeven. “The mPOS devices will improve customer service, which is our top priority, and I remain committed to continuing working with the Postal Service to ensure that North Dakotans are receiving the best possible service.”

The mPOS devices that will be installed in North Dakota will allow customer service representatives to process many simple transactions while away from the counter, thus improving customer service. The devices allow USPS to conduct many transactions like emailing receipts more quickly and efficiently.

This week the new technology will be added to the following North Dakota locations:

• Bismarck (220 E Rosser Ave Rm 112)

• Dickinson (15 1st St E)

• Fargo (657 2nd Ave N)

• Minot (117 5th Ave SW)

• Watford City (212 2nd St NE)

• Williston (120 E Broadway)

Hoeven has hosted Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to visit Williston to hear from local business and community leaders and local postal employees about challenges to mail delivery in the region. As a result of his visit, the Postmaster General committed to finding a location in the northern part of Williston to open a new facility. The senator has also arranged a follow-up visit to the state with Drew Aliperto, United States Postal Service (USPS) vice president of area operations for the western area.

As a result of these visits, the Postmaster General and regional vice president committed to addressing the difficulty local post offices were having in efforts to recruit new workers. Last month, Hoeven announced that the U.S. Postal Service has signed a lease to open a full-service retail postal facility in Williston at the newly constructed Badlands Town Center. The facility is expected to open this spring. Additionally, officials notified Hoeven in February that the USPS has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Rural Letter Carriers Association to grant pay increases and bonuses to recruit and retain rural carriers in the Bakken region, including Minot, Dickinson, Williston, Watford City and most of the communities in western North Dakota, effective May 17, 2014.

The senator supported the 21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012, comprehensive reform legislation that sought to develop a thoughtful plan to restore the U.S. Postal Service to solvency while preserving delivery service standards.

Heitkamp Announces Postal Service Improvements across North Dakota
Postmaster General’s Commitments to Senator Take Effect in State

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that, as a result of her recent meeting with United States Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will be introducing Mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) devices in six locations across North Dakota this week.

At her recent meeting with Donahoe, Heitkamp received commitments from USPS to improve mail delivery and standards in North Dakota. These included the implementation of mPOS devices, which allow USPS employees to process many simple transactions away from the counter, making it more convenient and efficient for customers to complete transactions.

“It’s no secret that mail delivery and service standards need to be improved in North Dakota and this is a positive step forward,” said Heitkamp. “Anything we can do to make the Postal Service work better for North Dakotans is a welcome development. The commitments I received from Postmaster General Donahoe are critical for folks across the state and I will keep pressing USPS to continue to follow through so that all the hard-working North Dakotans I hear from every day have the mail delivery and service standards they deserve.”

Heitkamp previously called on North Dakotans to share their stories as part of her Fix My Mail grassroots effort if they encountered extensive delivery times or had to deal with other problems with their postal service. Heitkamp will continue to present the stories to the USPS Postmaster General and the GAO. More than 100 North Dakotans have submitted stories to Heitkamp. Click here to submit stories.

In February, Heitkamp helped advance comprehensive postal reform out of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee after the panel adopted key changes she made to the legislation that will improve mail service in rural communities throughout North Dakota.