From staff reports
news@joplinglobe.com
Management proposals are being sought for two more local driver license offices in the region as part of a requirement by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon that the offices be put out for bid.
Potential bidders have until June 23 to submit proposals on the operation of the office in Monett, and until June 30 on the office in Pineville, according to the Missouri Department of Revenue.
The bid procedure is being administered by the state’s Office of Administration, and teams from the Department of Revenue evaluate the bids.
One local contract has been awarded thus far among the more than 180 license bureaus in operation in the state. Officials announced last month that the Neosho office would be managed by the Neosho Area Business and Industrial Foundation Inc., a not-for-profit economic-development group.
Bidding deadlines have passed for offices in Joplin, Carthage and Nevada, though contracts have yet to be awarded.
According to the Department of Revenue’s Web site, proposals for the Joplin office were submitted by Alternative Opportunities Inc., Glenn D. Wilson, Applus Technologies and Jehu LLC, a company organized by Nick Myers, who currently holds the contract for the Joplin office.
Bidders for the Carthage office are Alternative Opportunities, Applus Technologies and Debra Hensley, current office manager.
Alternative Opportunities also has submitted a bid for the Nevada office, along with Jeannie Reed, Connie Peckman and Charlie’s Trading Post Inc.
Teams will look at bidders’ plans for customer service, hours of operation, and accessibility and security of the office location, along with past business or license office experience in the office staff, and whether some of the revenue will be returned to the state.
Transactions that take place at license offices include renewing or applying for a driver license; renewing or applying for registration on motor vehicles, boats and outboard motors; and applying for titles and paying sales taxes on these items.
Plans to make the license offices “more efficient and accountable” were announced earlier this year by Nixon, a Democrat. Nixon said management of many license bureaus in the past had been given to “partisan political supporters.”
Management plans also were required under the administration of Nixon’s predecessor, Republican Matt Blunt. During Blunt’s tenure, the contract for the Joplin office went to Myers, chairman of the Newton County Republican Central Committee. The Carthage office contract went to John Putnam, chairman of the Jasper County Republican Central Committee.
Critics of Nixon have cited a recent decision awarding the Lee’s Summit operation to Lee’s Summit LLC, owned by James Montee. A release from the Missouri Republican Party notes that he is the ex-husband of State Auditor Susan Montee and a donor to Democratic causes.
A Department of Revenue release announcing the contract cited James Montee’s pledge to return to the state 8 percent, or just over $42,000, of the first-year revenues of the office.
Local News
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