DELRAY BEACH — Palm Beach County Tax Collector Anne Gannon has announced the dedication and launch of the first Full Service Driver License Center Monday, September 13 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Delray Beach Service Center, 501 South Congress Avenue. “I want to extend an invitation to the public.” Gannon requested that everyone bring their smile and be ready to “say cheese!”
Gannon’s announcement comes after the Florida Legislature transferred the responsibility of driver license services from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to local county tax collectors. Gannon has been working throughout the year getting her office
ready for this major undertaking.
“We have had many challenges, including inadequate buildings to accommodate the increased service need. All of my offices, except Lake Worth, are currently providing all services but driver testing and non-citizen services. Delray is our first full service center. I am optimistic that Belle Glade will be next as early as November with Royal Palm Beach following in early 2011. Also, I recently signed an agreement with DHSMV to lease their DMV offices in their Lantana and Palm Beach Gardens buildings beginning of next year.”
Gannon said she hoped that residents would not experience any delay in services. “Unfortunately there will be a two-week period after the Delray Beach DHSMV closes until my office opens due to major construction. Originally, we were looking at a far worse situation.” Gannon said. “DHSMV told me they planned to close on June 30, which would have created a crisis for South County residents. I was able to convince them to work with landlord to extend the lease until the end of August.”
“My challenge is that our building at 501 South Congress is undergoing major construction required to accommodate the new driver license services,” Gannon noted. “We had to do major renovations including constructing a road course for driver testing, put in a 150-space parking lot and renovate more than 6,000 square feet of service space vacated by the Property Appraiser’s Office. Thanks to the support of the County and City Commissions, our contractors are on a fast track, but September 13 is the absolute earliest that we can safely open the doors to the public.”
The Delray Beach DHSMV office located at 14570 S. Military Trail closed its doors Aug. 24.