Joco Today

Topeka, KS – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall recently sent a letter to United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, urging USPS officials to finalize lease negotiations with the City of Winchester and proceed with reopening a post office in the community.

“Access to a post office and daily mail service are vital for all Kansans,” Senator Marshall stated in his letter to Postmaster DeJoy. “Just like schools, grocery stores, and pharmacies, post offices are essential to the health and prosperity of our communities. It is imperative that the USPS finalize its lease with the City of Winchester and allow the community to reopen their post office.”

Senator Marshall has requested that USPS officials finalize a lease with the City of Winchester no later than July 15, 2024.

Background:

In January 2021, the city’s post office was closed due to mold in the building. At the request of USPS, the City of Winchester purchased a new building and has been actively participating in lease negotiations with USPS officials. However, USPS officials have yet to finalize a lease agreement with the city.

Senator Marshall’s office has been in communication with city officials since 2021 when the original location was closed. For months now, Senator Marshall has been requesting transparency and answers regarding continued mail delays across Kansas.

On March 7, 2024, Senator Marshall led a letter requesting answers and transparency for the continued decline in performance indicators, inconsistent mail delivery across the two-state region, and insufficient staffing at USPS facilities. The letter follows several previous requests by Senators for investigations into ongoing interruptions and delays in mail delivery in the Kansas City region.

In February, Senator Marshall sent a separate letter asking for explanations for frequent mail delivery delays to residents in Johnson County.