Dunkirk BMV to close? (6/13/05)

DUNKIRK — A news conference was scheduled for 1 p.m. today at the Statehouse in Indianapolis to announce plans to close about 25 additional Bureau of Motor Vehicle license branches throughout the state, including the one here.

Dunkirk Mayor Sam Hubbard said this morning that he had been contacted by state BMV director Joel Silverman who alerted him that Dunkirk would be on the list of new proposed closings.

Currently, Jay County has only two license branches — one in Portland and one in Dunkirk. The Portland branch is reportedly not on the closure list, Hubbard said.

Hubbard said that his initial reactions were “shock and awe,” and he added he was definitely not happy about the situation.

BMV representative Jeff Mullins said this morning that he could not release any details about possible additional branch closings until after the 1 p.m. press conference in Indianapolis, which he expects will be covered by The Associated Press.

Hubbard said he had been told by Silverman that the closing of the Dunkirk branch was not definite yet, and a public hearing would be slated in the near future.

BMV officials said that the aim of the branch closings around the state is to save money.[[In-content Ad]]