U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan said Tuesday that U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe has agreed to personally review the decision to close the Duluth mail processing facility.

Nolan, DFL-Crosby, said he spoke to Donahoe on Friday and that the postmaster agreed to review the Duluth case. The Postal Service announced recently that it would close the facility in 2015, affecting 70 jobs and the time it takes to send and receive some mail.

Nolan said Donahoe made no promises. But, the 8th District congressman said Donahoe did “listen carefully” to his concerns that the move would be particularly harmful to rural communities.

“There is no logical, sensible reason to abandon this cost-effective, expanding facility in Duluth and put 70 good-paying jobs at risk,” Nolan said.

Nolan added that the USPS is required by law to take into consideration any and all harmful consequences a closure or consolidation would have on rural communities.

Under the closing plan, which has been announced and thwarted several times in recent years, the Duluth postal office would maintain its retail facility, but relocate its mail processing and sorting operations to the Twin Cities.

Nolan said he will hold a public forum Friday in Duluth to take input on the closing. The forum will take place from 9-10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, “the coppertop church” at 230 E. Skyline Parkway.

Nolan has also invited the postmaster general to come to Minnesota and tour both the Duluth facility and the smaller operation in Bemidji that is also on a recently released list of closures and consolidations.

via Nolan makes late pitch to save Duluth postal center | Duluth News Tribune.