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Letter, petition urge state to keep MVD open
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| Councilman Jimmy Norris holds up a signed page of the petition to keep the Willcox MVD open. (Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News) |
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
Willcox is fighting back after the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) announced last month that it plans to close the local MVD office.
On Nov. 24, the department announced its intention to close the MVD offices in Willcox, Benson and Bisbee as well as nine others across the state to balance the department's budget.
Councilman Jimmy Norris is circulating a petition against the closure around town.
Addressed to "Department of Motor Vehicles and Government Officials," his petition begins, "I was very disappointed after reading about (the) MVD office in Willcox being on the close list."
"We are in a remote, rural area and with a large elder population, of many which are not computer literate and depend on the office for all their MVD needs," it continues.
"This will create a hardship on our community as a whole," Norris' petition states.
"The closest office will be in Safford, which is 50 miles away, or Sierra Vista, which is 80 miles away. I hope with this petition, that state would please reconsider closing the Willcox office."
Norris and his fellow council members voted unanimously Monday night to send a letter to ADOT asking to reconsider its decision. Councilwoman Monika Cronberg suggested that the letter be amended to add that people also register to vote at the Willcox office.
City Manager Pat McCourt assured the council that the letter would be amended and available for council members to sign on Tuesday.
At the Dec. 7 council meeting, Councilman Woody Johnson had made the suggestion that city staff draft a letter for council to sign.
That letter is addressed to Don Cassano with the ADOT Licensing Division in Phoenix and copied to the governor and state legislature, begins, "It was with some disappointment and dismay that we read in the local paper, the Arizona Range News," about the plans to close MVD offices throughout the state.
"We do recognize the difficult financial time that the State of Arizona is in, and we do recognize that services will have to be reduced to address the financial hole that state government has found itself in."
The Dec. 14 letter said that the city is facing similar problems, what with "shortfalls in income and the ever rising costs of operations."
"We also have to make difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions to remain financially solvent."
The council requested the opportunity "to discuss with you any proposals to keep the existing licensing office services available in Willcox."
"The closure of this office will have a very negative impact on the quality of life of the people in this area. This area is already lower income and economically stunted. Moving this closest office an hour or more away will only further lower the standard of living of the people and further inhibit the development and future of the area."
"The immediate area surrounding Willcox also has a large number of senior citizens," the letter stated.
"As you are aware, senior citizens have to renew their licenses much more often than other age groups and they are frequently the least able to drive the distances that will be required under the closure proposal."
In closing, the letter said city council wants to discuss "the possibility of some type of joint venture or contractor operated office in Willcox to maintain the services during the current economic downturn."
"We don't know what type of solution may be possible. What we do know is that we would like to work with you to develop a solution, which can maintain the availability of the licensing services in this remote area."
Jan Kortsen, owner of Shotton Insurance Agency, plans to open a third-party office "if and only if they close," she told the Range News.
"I would love to see them stay open."
Kortsen, who bought the building she occupies in 2007, leases space to the MVD office.
"I would retain that location and provide title and registration services," she explained.
Kortsen, who has done research into running a third-party office, plans to meet with Monica Hogue, who used to own such a business in Willcox.
"I know that the state has to authorize you," said Kortsen, adding that a third-party office "provides similar services as a state MVD office."
"The difference is that you have to pay a 'convenience' fee."
Through her research, Kortsen has learned that third-party offices in Yuma and Phoenix may charge as much as $20 for a duplicate title, which costs $4 at a state MVD office.
"That's what Phoenix charges," she told the Range News.
"They (MVD) might require me to do that, too. They still get a part of that money."
Some services that would not be offered include traffic survival school, "which they do not offer here anyway," she said.
"I would not do vehicle inspections or road testing," said Kortsen.
"I would do driver's license processing and title and registration processing, which is the majority of what they do there."
While opening a third-party office would be a service to the community, Kortsen knows that it will help "my business here. If MVD closes, I'd be losing rent. And I have gotten a lot of business from MVD."
"I have really enjoyed my relationship with MVD," she told the Range News.
"It's been a great relationship and I hope it doesn't end."
Norris, who owns Jim-Glo in Willcox, knows that closing the Willcox MVD office would adversely affect his business, as well.
"It's easy to go down there and get a license for our people," said Norris, whose company manufactures trailers.
In a Nov. 24 statement, department Director John Halikowski said,
"The closure of MVD offices is an inconvenience and hardship for our customers, especially in rural Arizona. However, inadequate state revenues are forcing tough decisions to be made."
Before the offices can be closed, a review by the U.S. Department of Justice is required to ensure that, since the offices provide voter registration services, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 will not be violated, according to a news release announcing the office closures.
"We have a feeling that more customers in southeastern Arizona and around the state will choose to use a third-party business that provides MVD services at the cost of a convenience fee (www.azmvdservices.com)," said Doug Nintzel, department spokesman.
When the Range News informed Nintzel that the third-party service in Willcox closed more than a year ago, he replied, "Willcox area customers will be especially inconvenienced, along with customers in communities like St. John's and Ajo."
"We don't want to tell people that they have to drive that far to get to an MVD office, and we hope as many people as possible will do available transactions online," he said.
"But the state's budget problems, and the legislature's reliance on transportation funding to try to solve the overall state budget crisis, have forced some difficult decisions."
On Nov. 24, the department announced its intention to close the MVD offices in Willcox, Benson and Bisbee as well as nine others across the state to balance the department's budget.
Councilman Jimmy Norris is circulating a petition against the closure around town.
Addressed to "Department of Motor Vehicles and Government Officials," his petition begins, "I was very disappointed after reading about (the) MVD office in Willcox being on the close list."
"We are in a remote, rural area and with a large elder population, of many which are not computer literate and depend on the office for all their MVD needs," it continues.
"This will create a hardship on our community as a whole," Norris' petition states.
"The closest office will be in Safford, which is 50 miles away, or Sierra Vista, which is 80 miles away. I hope with this petition, that state would please reconsider closing the Willcox office."
Norris and his fellow council members voted unanimously Monday night to send a letter to ADOT asking to reconsider its decision. Councilwoman Monika Cronberg suggested that the letter be amended to add that people also register to vote at the Willcox office.
City Manager Pat McCourt assured the council that the letter would be amended and available for council members to sign on Tuesday.
At the Dec. 7 council meeting, Councilman Woody Johnson had made the suggestion that city staff draft a letter for council to sign.
That letter is addressed to Don Cassano with the ADOT Licensing Division in Phoenix and copied to the governor and state legislature, begins, "It was with some disappointment and dismay that we read in the local paper, the Arizona Range News," about the plans to close MVD offices throughout the state.
"We do recognize the difficult financial time that the State of Arizona is in, and we do recognize that services will have to be reduced to address the financial hole that state government has found itself in."
The Dec. 14 letter said that the city is facing similar problems, what with "shortfalls in income and the ever rising costs of operations."
"We also have to make difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions to remain financially solvent."
The council requested the opportunity "to discuss with you any proposals to keep the existing licensing office services available in Willcox."
"The closure of this office will have a very negative impact on the quality of life of the people in this area. This area is already lower income and economically stunted. Moving this closest office an hour or more away will only further lower the standard of living of the people and further inhibit the development and future of the area."
"The immediate area surrounding Willcox also has a large number of senior citizens," the letter stated.
"As you are aware, senior citizens have to renew their licenses much more often than other age groups and they are frequently the least able to drive the distances that will be required under the closure proposal."
In closing, the letter said city council wants to discuss "the possibility of some type of joint venture or contractor operated office in Willcox to maintain the services during the current economic downturn."
"We don't know what type of solution may be possible. What we do know is that we would like to work with you to develop a solution, which can maintain the availability of the licensing services in this remote area."
Jan Kortsen, owner of Shotton Insurance Agency, plans to open a third-party office "if and only if they close," she told the Range News.
"I would love to see them stay open."
Kortsen, who bought the building she occupies in 2007, leases space to the MVD office.
"I would retain that location and provide title and registration services," she explained.
Kortsen, who has done research into running a third-party office, plans to meet with Monica Hogue, who used to own such a business in Willcox.
"I know that the state has to authorize you," said Kortsen, adding that a third-party office "provides similar services as a state MVD office."
"The difference is that you have to pay a 'convenience' fee."
Through her research, Kortsen has learned that third-party offices in Yuma and Phoenix may charge as much as $20 for a duplicate title, which costs $4 at a state MVD office.
"That's what Phoenix charges," she told the Range News.
"They (MVD) might require me to do that, too. They still get a part of that money."
Some services that would not be offered include traffic survival school, "which they do not offer here anyway," she said.
"I would not do vehicle inspections or road testing," said Kortsen.
"I would do driver's license processing and title and registration processing, which is the majority of what they do there."
While opening a third-party office would be a service to the community, Kortsen knows that it will help "my business here. If MVD closes, I'd be losing rent. And I have gotten a lot of business from MVD."
"I have really enjoyed my relationship with MVD," she told the Range News.
"It's been a great relationship and I hope it doesn't end."
Norris, who owns Jim-Glo in Willcox, knows that closing the Willcox MVD office would adversely affect his business, as well.
"It's easy to go down there and get a license for our people," said Norris, whose company manufactures trailers.
In a Nov. 24 statement, department Director John Halikowski said,
"The closure of MVD offices is an inconvenience and hardship for our customers, especially in rural Arizona. However, inadequate state revenues are forcing tough decisions to be made."
Before the offices can be closed, a review by the U.S. Department of Justice is required to ensure that, since the offices provide voter registration services, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 will not be violated, according to a news release announcing the office closures.
"We have a feeling that more customers in southeastern Arizona and around the state will choose to use a third-party business that provides MVD services at the cost of a convenience fee (www.azmvdservices.com)," said Doug Nintzel, department spokesman.
When the Range News informed Nintzel that the third-party service in Willcox closed more than a year ago, he replied, "Willcox area customers will be especially inconvenienced, along with customers in communities like St. John's and Ajo."
"We don't want to tell people that they have to drive that far to get to an MVD office, and we hope as many people as possible will do available transactions online," he said.
"But the state's budget problems, and the legislature's reliance on transportation funding to try to solve the overall state budget crisis, have forced some difficult decisions."
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