SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 9

(By Senators Blatnik, Bowman, Wiedebusch and Macnaughtan)




Requesting the United States Postal Service to preserve and maintain the Wheeling, West Virginia, postmark and to assure the future maintenance of the Wheeling, West Virginia, processing center at the level that will sustain the high quality of service that the residents of the northern panhandle of West Virginia deserve.

Whereas, The city of Wheeling, West Virginia, has served a prominent role in the history of this state, including service as the state capitol and as the "Gateway to the West"; and
Whereas, The city of Wheeling, West Virginia, remains an important municipality in West Virginia and continues to be the third largest city in the state; and
Whereas, The United States Postal Service has operated mail service out of Wheeling for residents of the northern panhandle of West Virginia for over one hundred years, including service in the counties of Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel; and
Whereas, The Wheeling, West Virginia, postmark has become a symbol for the unique importance of Wheeling as a city and the role it has played in the development of the great state of West Virginia; and
Whereas, The United States Postal Service is contemplating a transfer of some mail processing services to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which may lead to the elimination of some employment and services and ultimately of the Wheeling, West Virginia, postmark; and
Whereas, The cancellation of the Wheeling, West Virginia, postmark and mail processing services could pose a degradation of mail service within West Virginia and could diminish the identity of Wheeling and the northern panhandle of West Virginia as an important historical, cultural and economic point in our nation; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the United States Postal Service heed the plea of the residents to preserve and maintain the Wheeling, West Virginia, postmark and maintain the Wheeling, West Virginia, processing center at the level that will sustain the high quality of service that the residents of the northern panhandle of West Virginia deserve; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the Postmaster General of the United States and the members of the United States Senate from West Virginia.