State officials shift gears, say driver’s license center staying
It appears drivers in Warren County may not have to travel outside the county to get a driver’s license after all, due in part to intervention from state Sen. Jerry Cooper and state Reps. Charles Curtiss and Judd Matheny.
According to information provided by state spokesperson Beth Womack, the Standard recently reported the facility was on a list of driver’s license stations scheduled to close around the state due to proposed budget cuts by Gov. Phil Bredesen.
“I was given some misinformation when I was told the Warren County driver testing station was going to close,” Womack said. “That was one of the ones we were looking at.
“We were having to look very closely at our driver testing stations, and the business we do at those stations and where some money might be saved by closing some of those stations.
“Warren County is one of what we call a part-time base station, and we are looking at several of those part-time base stations to close, but not all of them are going to close,” Womack said. “And Warren County is, fortunately for you guys, one of those that is going to be able to stay open.”
Womack said the earlier story was indeed accurate according to information she had released at that point.
Womack did say the decision to close the “roving stations” based out of Warren County was still in effect, and local personnel would no longer be traveling to Cannon, DeKalb or Van Buren counties to operate part-time stations there.
Sen. Cooper’s office reported he is delighted with the outcome in a statement Monday.
“He is very pleased the Department of Safety has decided to reconsider their initial action on closing the driver’s license station, and that with the help of Judd Matheny and Charlie Curtiss it seems to be a done deal. It’s going to stay open,” said Cooper staff contact Christina Hupp Barber.
Local reaction to the Department of Safety’s decision was very positive.
“I’m just proud they’re not closing it,” said County Executive Kenneth Rogers. “When we called Sen. Cooper’s office they assured us they were not closing the one in Warren County. We’re tickled they’re not closing it due to the fact it’s a big help to the people and citizens of Warren County and surrounding areas.”