By Avery Neuville
Twin Ports natives took to the steps of the federal building to save Duluth's Mail Processing Plant Monday.
Community leaders say the potential closing of the plant is not only an inconvenience for citizens, but will hurt the economy as well as businesses.
Community leaders throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin see no advantage to the proposed plan.
If the processing plant is closed, leaders say it will only cause service disruptions.
All mail from the area will be collected and sent to the Twin Cities to be sorted and than have to be sent back to the Northland.
The USPS says it will save money, but community leaders disagree.
"I don't understand it. It's very confusing. They're going off of two years of data from two years ago. So, their data is not even accurate. They aren't going to save any money," said Todd Fawcett, president of American Postal Workers Union.
U.S Rep. Rick Nolan stated, "Shutting down this facility is not about saving money and making the postal service more efficient. It's about cutting services to people up here in Duluth and Minnesota 8th congressional district."
The proposed plan is said to delay mail two to three times longer for citizens, not even taking into account mechanical problems that may occur or storms that will hit in the winter, which would slow down the process even more.
Congress has asked for a one year waiting period leaving the public to hear their final decision in July of 2015.