WASHINGTON – An audit is recommending the Minot Post Office review its staffing alignment and conduct additional staff training, according to the state’s congressional delegation, who were briefed on the audit results Thursday.

Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Congressman Kelly Armstrong announced the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General has completed its audit of postal operations in the Minnesota-North Dakota District. The audit covers USPS facilities statewide and follows the interim audit results released in March, covering facilities in Bismarck, Mandan and Minot.

The full audit focused on five areas, including delayed mail, package scanning, arrow keys, carrier complement and timekeeping and property conditions. The inspector general (IG) found operational deficiencies in each area at a districtwide level.

Districtwide, the audit recommends identifying and implementing additional strategies to fill and retain carrier and clerk positions and training management at all delivery units on the proper procedures for identifying, quantifying and reporting delayed mail.

Recommendations for specific post offices include:

– Provide sufficient training for management on proper mail delivery practices, including delivering all committed mail daily, in Mandan.

– Review staffing alignment within the district and provide adequate staff to deliver all committed mail daily in both Bismarck and Minot.

– Train all employees on standard operating procedures for package scanning and handling in Bismarck, Mandan and Minot.

– Address all remaining building safety, security and maintenance issues in Mandan.

– Verify that all Contract Delivery Service route carriers and their assistants possess a Postal Service photo identification badge in Mandan.

“The completion of this audit shines a light on the challenges facing postal delivery across our state, but the work does not stop with the release of the audit,” said the delegation. “USPS needs to implement the IG’s recommendations in a timely way to ensure homes and businesses receive their mail, packages and other deliveries without delay. That’s exactly what we will continue working to accomplish, while also holding USPS leadership accountable to make sure they address local concerns and that any changes to mail processing and other postal operations in our state actually result in benefits to local residents.”