Letter Penned By Congressman Dale Strong Calls For Mail Distribution Facility To Return To Huntsville
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Congressman Dale Strong Addressing Mail Concerns
In response to multiple reports as well as constituents’ complaints of mail delays in the Tennessee Valley area, Congressman Dale Strong has written a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expressing his concerns. Residents from different parts of the valley have reported that their letters and packages are taking twice as long to arrive, or in some unfortunate cases, not arriving at all.
Residents Describe Their Mail Experiences
Betty Ruth, a resident of Athens, described her experience of inconsistent mail services over the past two years, ranging from lost mail to weeks-long delays for mail reaching its intended destination. Her worst experience, she recounts, was when she posted a check to pay her light bill which never arrived and was returned to her two months later.
Similarly, New Market resident Jerome Acuff reported the postal service mismanaged a time-sensitive legal document from his lawyer, which arrived nearly 20 days after it was originally sent.
Mail Distribution Facility: A Cause of Delays
Ruth and Acuff, among many other residents, believe that these problems can be attributed to a Birmingham-based distribution facility. This facility, now responsible for handling all mails from North Alabama, originated as a localized distribution unit in Huntsville, which was later consolidated and shut down in 2010. As per Acuff’s recollection, the mail service was quick and efficient prior to the closure of Huntsville’s distribution facility.
Congressman Strong’s Solution
Responding to the flood of upon many complaints from people of the Valley, Congressman Dale Strong penned a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, advocating for the establishment of a new distribution center in Huntsville, Ala. In his letter, Congressman Strong highlighted the population growth in Huntsville (36%) and Madison County (23%) since the closure of the last postal facility, justifying the need for a new hub. He called upon the Postmaster General for a significant investment in this regard.
USPS Responds
Responding to the widespread concerns, United States Postal Service Spokesperson Debra Jean Fetterly assured that the organization is committed to providing outstanding service, and resolving service issues quickly. She also invited consumers to use multiple channels, including local post offices, helpline numbers, and the USPS website, to report any issues they may have with their mail services.
Waiting for the Future
As of now, Congressman Dale Strong is awaiting a written response from the Postmaster General regarding the concerns shared in his letter. As the residents of the Tennessee Valley look forward to a resolution of the ongoing mail service issues, the return of a mail distribution facility to Huntsville continues to remain a fervent hope.
