Driver’s license department changes operations

Operations at the driver’s license/motor vehicle departments and treasurer’s office in Jasper County have been changed to better adhere to social distancing restrictions while also maintaining quality service to citizens.

This new model was implemented Tuesday morning and will persist for six months, until Jan. 1, 2021. Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop said this way of doing business could save the county $100,000 in taxpayer money.

“We don’t get a lot of opportunities to save $100,000 like that,” Bishop said. “I think it’s the responsibility of all of us to be looking for those opportunities.”

Both aforementioned county departments suffered a setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Bishop said it also has sparked an “opportunity” to examine how the entity conducts its business.

Staff will now primarily provide service to citizens through appointments only. Only 28 appointments can be scheduled per day.

As of Tuesday morning, about 340 driver’s license appointments have been made.

The first available appointment is on June 20. Despite some reservations, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors supported Bishop’s new way of conducting business.

“To me, we should have been doing this a long time ago,” Bishop said. “Everybody here will have a structured appointment … We started taking appointments last Thursday. We’ll do one every 15 minutes.”

An employee will be waiting outside the driver’s license/motor vehicle departments with a check list for customers to make sure all of the correct documentation has been collected.

Staff will communicate through radio.

Customers will have to wear a mask when visiting the driver’s license department, Bishop said. To secure a driver’s license, a person must use a vision screening device. Employees also will disinfect the machine after use.

“I think even those that don’t think maybe masks are helping the situation would understand if you’re sticking your face directly in that machine, there’s only so much we can do to spray and protect it,” Bishop said.

Ever since the pandemic closed county offices in March, Bishop said the driver’s license department has 847 backlogged driver’s licenses in the county.

Priority service will be given to the elderly and those in need of a commercial driver’s license.

Employees will send appointment reminders by email or phone, Bishop said.

Residents seeking a normal driver’s license renewal can apply for a six-month extension. The Iowa Department of Transportation has allowed customers to apply for this extension online, Bishop said.

"They really amped up their internet access and their website," he said. "If you go to the beach bar in the queue — like if somebody wants a moped license for their kid — all you have to do is type in 'moped' and it has everything."

Motor vehicle transactions are now placed on a “rolling chart.” If citizens had purchased a car in February or March, for instance, Bishop said they had better have registration and plates by June 25.

Most of those transactions, too, will be handled by mail.

Tax payments addressed to the treasurer’s office will still be handled online, by mail or with the dropbox stationed by the west entrance of the courthouse.

Bishop said the box has been used considerably by citizens.

“All three are set up and ready to go,” Bishop said. “I think it’s a great way of doing business. It’s going to be different. People are going to have to get used to the new way of doing it, but I think it’s the way that we need to be handling it from this point forward.”

To make an appointment, or for more information, call 641-792-7731 ext 2.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or
cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com