After some roadblocks, the Dunkirk Department of Motor Vehicle office move is back on track.
The DMV will have a new home by Tuesday at 3988 Vineyard Dr. in Dunkirk, the site of the former Blockbuster Video store, next to Lawley Tradition Insurance Agency. The office will be closed today, as it prepares for the move.
Two weeks ago it was questioned at a Dunkirk Town Board meeting whether the work leading up to the move would be done in time.
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The Dunkirk Department of Motor Vehicles is moving to the former Blockbuster building on Vineyard Drive, Dunkirk.
However, Thursday Dunkirk Town Code Enforcement Officer Ryan Mourer said paperwork has been submitted and everything is in place to begin the move today.
"They provided the required documents, I am waiting on a couple items but I have been assured they have had the proper inspections and I am prepared to offer a certificate of occupancy (today)," Mourer said in a phone interview Thursday.
He explained the certificate of occupancy is what is needed before the DMV moves into the building and he will do th final inspection this morning. He added he believed the DMV will open Tuesday.
"It appears they should be moved in and operational by Tuesday," he said.
The county's lease on the previous location expires today. The decision to make the move was based on cost savings as well as the convenient location.
The location was lauded by county officials for its smaller footprint, proximity to Route 60 and the Thruway with cost savings of around $37,000 annually after the previous lease owner refused to negotiate the county's footprint in the building.
"For a number of reasons we had to look for a new site for the DMV office," Chautauqua County Clerk Sandy Sopak said in a news release. "George Spanos, director of public facilities, began the search for a new site months ago. Our goal was to find a place that was conveniently located with easy access to and from the building that would be less expensive than our current space. This location fit the bill."
Centrally located in the business district in the town of Dunkirk, just down the street from the Thruway entrance, the location was a good fit for the office. With ample parking around the building, customers will find it convenient to get in and out of the office.
Once inside, the new layout should provide a more streamlined flow for customers that will allow quicker transactions to be handled more efficiently. At a savings of nearly $35,000 a year, the new site met all of the county's requirements.
A 10-year lease agreement with Roosa Corporation out of Salamanca was executed for 2,447 square feet of office space at price of $17.76 per square foot to rent the space.
Along with today, the DMV office in the D&F Plaza will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day. The new location will be open Tuesday at 9 a.m. DMV officials ask residents to check the county clerk's website at www.co.chautauqua.ny.us/departments/clerk/Pages/default.aspx and local media outlets in case of unforeseen delays in the re-opening.
The Dunkirk DMV office is open Monday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All computer processing ends 15 minutes before close. Customers need to allow more time for lengthier transactions, including enhanced driver's licenses, vehicle registrations and permit testing.
