FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009
Contact: Tom Dravland, Secretary, Department of Public Safety, 605.773.3178
Mission, Wagner to continue driver licensing services
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota’s Department of Public Safety will continue to operate driver licensing stations in Mission and Wagner while closing 15 other sites effective Oct. 1.
The closings are part of a statewide restructuring of driver licensing services. The goal is to shift program resources to high-volume areas such as Sioux Falls and Rapid City while maintaining basic service across the state. The restructuring will allow the division to continue operations without additional staff or a budget increase.
Mission and Wagner were among communities originally on the restructuring list. However, Gov. Mike Rounds reviewed the plan and directed the Department of Public Safety to continue services in those two communities.
Mission is located in Todd County, a jurisdiction in which the Voting Rights Act requires preclearance of changes that could affect voting rights, Public Safety Secretary Tom Dravland explained.
Wagner, although not subject to preclearance, is in a jurisdiction that has been subject to Voting Rights Act challenges in the past, Dravland said.
“The potential for litigation because of the closure, coupled with the Governor’s further review of the levels of use and the geographic location served, prompted him to direct us to continue services in Wagner,’’ Dravland said.
The remainder of the restructuring is moving forward, he said. Sites being closed are in Beresford, Britton, Canton, Clark, ClearLake, Deadwood, De Smet, Flandreau, Freeman, Howard, Parkston, Philip, Platte, Salem and Tyndall.
“In tough economic times, people expect state government to make the best possible use of existing resources rather than asking for more money and more staff,’’ Dravland said. “The restructuring will allow us to continue services across South Dakota and at the same time meet an increasing demand for service in areas of the state with population growth.’’
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