Letter to the editor: Work to protect city’s jobs in U.S. Postal Service

In her book “A Biography of U.S. Senator Milton R. Young,” Andrea Winkjer Collins writes of the long term beneficial work Young did for Jamestown. It is because of Young and his political power that we have the Jamestown Dam. It was Young who was influential in bringing industrial manufactures with ties to the military to North Dakota and to Jamestown bringing us Western Gear (now Goodrich) to provide jobs for the area. Our good friend Johnny Klingenberg and other politically connected Jamestown people, who had built up a long-term respectful relationship with the senator, were instrumental in the process.

Of recent, a group of people were working on getting better airline service for Jamestown. Having known Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., for decades and knowing what his political influence can bring, I called on the senator to ask him if he would please get involved with convincing Northwest Airlines (now Delta) to provide us non-stop service to Minneapolis. Today, we again have that non-stop service. His only request was that we support the service he worked for.

I loved listening to our old departed friend, Rollie Meidinger, tell the story of his successful efforts to get Ladish Malt (now Cargill) to move their malting plant with their jobs to our area. Many other individuals have used their influence, both political and personal, to get companies and jobs moved here. We worked together to influence the North Dakota Farmers Union to remain in Jamestown with their jobs. We thank the Farmers Union for making this choice.

Several years ago, when the U.S. Postal Service was making plans to move jobs from our city by moving some of their tasks to Fargo, it was Mayor Frank Chase who made the contacts necessary resulting in retaining the jobs here. We now learn that the Postal Service is doing a study to consider whether some operations can be consolidated with their Fargo facility. Hopefully, those in Jamestown, with the political influence and connections with our lawmakers, are stepping up to the plate to keep those jobs in Jamestown.

It may already be in the works, but it is also time for the city operatives to use their political influence to bring military manufacturing jobs back to Jamestown. Jobs are what bring people to Jamestown and jobs are what keep people here.

Clarice Liechty

Jamestown

Tags: post office, opinion, letters