State Closes Othello DOL

By Molly Kelleher

Story

Summary

It's the first notch in the governor's budget belt-tightening. The state is closing 25 Department of Licensing offices. And the first round started Wednesday in Othello

Story Published: Feb 25, 2009 at 5:47 PM PST

OTHELLO - It's the first notch in the governor's budget belt-tightening. The state is closing 25 Department of Licensing offices. And the first round started Wednesday in Othello.

Everyone likes to joke about how the DMV is a hassle, you take your ticket and stand in line, but now there's an added hassle for folks in Othello.

This is the last day they're even going to have a local office.

"They're really ignoring everybody in Othello and yeah it's quite an inconvenience," said Jim Hayduk.

They Othello office closing means more people will be doing a lot more driving either to Moses Lake or to Kennewick and that means your local DOL will get more crowded.

Governor Chris Gregoire says it will save the state $2.6 million. In the next 18 months the state is working to soften the blow and streamline services at the remaining offices.

They are adding things like self-service terminals, expanding online services and develop a mobile unit to travel to small communities.

The Walla Walla office is also shutting down, but not for another year.

Those people will most likely also come to the Tri-Cities.

Kennewick's DOL office is set to expand it's hours, but that won't start for another year.