Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 16, 1992 TAG: 9201160264
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN
DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
DMV SERVICE RETURNS MARCH 1 TO GILES COUNTY
We want our DMV!That's what Giles County residents were saying after a state Department of Motor Vehicles satellite office in the county treasurer's office was closed in the summer.
And it worked.
Rick Cook, Giles County's new treasurer, said Wednesday that his office plans to resume the service March 2.
The county lost its DMV office July 1 as a result of state efforts to cut costs. The DMV had paid the Giles County treasurer's office $19,846 last year, Cook said. The treasurer's office will resume DMV services without payment from the state.
"It's totally for the convenience of the people," Cook said.
With the Giles office closed, residents had to drive to Montgomery or Pulaski counties to take care of DMV business such as tags, decals, titles and registration.
After the Giles protests in petitions and letters to state officials, state Transportation Secretary John Milliken said the decision to close some contract DMV offices was pure economics.
The General Assembly had voted to allow some DMV contract offices to stay open, but those that were run out of a government office had to either be closed or operate without compensation.
Irene O'Dell, county treasurer through last year, has said she was not told until April that it was possible for the DMV office to continue without state payments.
A petition drive organized by Edna O'Brien had netted more than 6,500 signatures. The Giles County Board of Supervisors and the county Chamber of Commerce wrote letters and sent resolutions to state officials, outlining reasons the service should be restored.
Cook, who defeated O'Dell and two other candidates in November, said he has been negotiating with DMV officials since Nov. 20. He said he has known for about a month now that the service would be returning to the county, but waited to announce it until plans were more firmed up.
Cook said he expects to sign a contract soon agreeing to be the licensed agent without direct compensation. The state will pay operating expenses, such as postage and telephone expenses, and will supply the forms needed for transactions, he said.
Del. Tommy Baker, R-Radford, said he had a long conversation with two DMV officials last week who told him the DMV had no problem with restoring the services under those conditions.
Baker said a letter will be required from the Board of Supervisors saying the service is wanted and there is someone available to provide it.