Those who obtain or renew their driver’s licenses in Dallas County may have to travel to another area to do their business, after the state Senate rejected the idea of opening another driver’s license station.

As we’ve reported, Dallas County continues to be the fastest growing county in the state and one of the fastest growing in the nation.  The County Supervisors decided last year that they plan to stop issuing driver’s licenses through the Treasurer’s office in Adel.  In response to that, the Iowa Department of Transportation proposed spending $424,000 from the state’s transportation budget to establish a new driver’s license station in the eastern portion of the county.  A bill passed in the Senate late Tuesday prohibits state officials from doing so.

District 10 State Senator Jake Chapman of Adel tells Raccoon Valley Radio the move purely political.

“According to the Department of Transportation, (this is) the first time they have ever seen specific language within a budget bill that prohibits them doing something like this.  So not only did they take out the $400,000 to operate the DOT station but put language that basically says if you’re a population between X and Y, which would be Dallas County, the DOT may not operate a license station in that particular county.”

But it was the comments by one Democratic Senator, that Chapman says were even more disturbing.

“Senator (Matt) McCoy indicated that residents of Dallas County can get in their Lexuses and drive to Ankeny to do their driver’s licenses. There is no place in the political arena, in the public square, for that kind of rhetoric.  This is completely politically motivated and it’s very disheartening.”

Senator Chapman says he’s “very hopeful that House Republicans will see the bill for what it is and will be able to take a stand on this issue now that the (transportation) budget bill has passed through the Senate and is now in the House. They have the ability to amend that and I’m very hopeful that they will stand strong and basically tell Senator McCoy and Senate Democrats enough with the political games.”

Chapman says from what he has heard, the rejection stems from Des Moines and Polk County losing their DOT station and some lawmakers feel Dallas County residents should have to travel to Polk County too.  Also mentioned was the fact that Dallas County residents have rejected bond referendums for new facilities.  However, Chapman says that had nothing to do with driver’s license stations, instead the proposed bond issues were for administrative space and a law enforcement center.

We’ve also reached out to Dallas County officials about the issue. Board of Supervisors Chair Mark Hanson says the DOTs request to build the drivers license station was to serve the entire west metro including Urbandale, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Clive and Dallas County.  The goal was to relieve pressure on the Ankeny station and improve the overall system.  Hanson says he looks forward to continued discussion with Senator McCoy.

Supervisor Brad Golightly calls the Senate decision unfortunate as it’s a regional issue and not just a Dallas County concern.

“I guess I don’t know Senator McCoy other than what I see or hear in the news.  I don’t know how he feels he can stereotype the people of Dallas County with his driving Lexuses comment.  The people of Dallas County are a growing number of thousands of school children and their families who come here to live and work and play.  With this growing number comes a greater use of government services, one of which is driver’s licenses which is technically a state function.”

Golighty adds that the County has been working with the DOT to come up with the most cost effective and efficient option for the region.

“I understand that the state doesn’t have enough money to go around, but neither do other jurisdictions.  This is a joint, regional issue and we need to continue to discuss appropriate options and solutions.”

Raccoon Valley Radio will continue to bring you more information on this story as it becomes official.

Updated from original post at 9:27am 4/20/16