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Friday, 04 July 2008 |
License office in limbo
By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Managing Editor
ST. MARYS — A local license bureau could be closed next year as officials from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) look to streamline their department.
The St. Marys License Bureau is on a list of four sites whose status is being reviewed by state BMV officials. Earlier this year, the St. Marys site received a one-year contract extension to provide services to area residents.
"The BMV is currently analyzing certain agencies in the state that they are thinking about closing due to other agencies in the area, the condition of the building and number of transaction per year," BMV spokesperson Julie Ehrhart told The Evening Leader Thursday. "They are going to do a cost analysis and what it would take to maintain the locations."
Other locations on the list for possible closure include Delphos, Oak Harbor and Barnesville. Ehrhart told The Evening Leader offices in Oak Harbor and Barnesville already received notice they would be closed next year.
"It is highly unlikely that none of them would be closed," Ehrhart said. "Things could get reversed if legislators get a flood of complaints from constituents and other things could happen to get a decision overturned."
Ehrhart said the St. Marys location received the contract extension so BMV officials could review its status. The BMV recently closed a handful of offices across the state for a variety of reasons, including the opening of several new facilities.
"One agency closed in Summit County because there were several agencies in that area and they built a one-stop shop," Ehrhart said. "Instead of having different locations, we combined them into one location."
Ehrhart said the bidding process for 2009 starts in January and typically takes several months. If the St. Marys location is closed, Ehrhart said residents would receive ample notification.
"We have not decided to close it yet, it is just on the list of consideration," Ehrhart said, noting residents would more than likely receive a month's notice of a closure. "If it is closed, we would give advanced notice to the location."
Other things that could impact the decision is if the area sees a population boom or if new businesses open in the region. Ehrhart said if the facility is closed, BMV officials try to make sure there is another location within 20 miles.
"People can go to a neighboring county to renew a license and that tax revenue would be sent back to Auglaize County," Ehrhart said. "We also have online services available to people."
The St. Marys bureau allows residents to renew operator's licenses as well as pick up license plates and temporary plates. The facility does not offer titles as that process is reserved for the title office in Wapakoneta. Other license bureaus are located in Wapakoneta and Celina.
"It is a vital government function that we need to maintain," St. Marys City Law Director Kraig Noble said of the local license bureau. "It certainly is a benefit to get your license plates and operator's license there. In this era of high gas prices, you would think the government would want to cooperate."
Noble said the downtown office also attracts patrons into St. Marys. Without a license bureau in town, residents in the western portion of Auglaize County would have to drive to other locations for service.
"When people come in from out of town, they many times will shop here," Noble said. "It is a matter of meeting the basic services — it is very similar to our municipal court."
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 July 2008 )
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