Treasurer: new employee will streamline license appointments

WASHINGTON — Washington County Supervisors voted in favor of a change order Tuesday morning to create a position for (and hire) a full-time driver’s license clerk at the treasurer’s office.

County Treasurer Jeff Garrett said the new staff member would expand staff availability both for driver’s license appointments, and help prevent related transactions from disrupting other office work.

While county residents will still be asked to schedule their license-related appointments ahead of time, Garrett said the change would create some needed flexibility for his office.

“We have been trying to move to a hybrid sort of thing where, if somebody shows up and they don’t have an appointment, and they don’t have anybody in line in front of them and we have staff, trying to help them at the time,” he said at the Board of Supervisors meeting Sept. 5. “If we have more people who are trained as backups, if people come without an appointment, there’s a better chance we’re able to take care of them.”

The change request hired Arial Harvey for the position, with a start date of Sept. 14 according to a packet of meeting materials shared with Supervisors and news media.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com