Can Warren County commissioners and McMinnville officials work together to recover the Driver Testing Center?
McMinnville Mayor Jimmy Haley is encouraging county officials to get on board as hopes fade to retain the center.
“As a community, we face a crossroads of which we can move backwards or forward,” said Haley. “To move forward we must work together. We are one community, one county, and we should have one vision. That vision should include providing quality services to all county residents.”
The state closed its Driver Testing Center across from WCHS on Vervilla Road on May 31. Haley urged commissioners to help financially if needed.
McMinnville officials had been working with the state to relocate the Driver Testing Center into City Hall, but cost became a factor when an estimate rose from $50,000 to over $300,000 to renovate the basement for state use.
Haley refused to elaborate on his plan. However, in July, he did make a statement it would be better to purchase the building previously used by the state, which remains vacant, rather than renovate City Hall.
The county Budget and Finance Committee will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the matter at Warren County Administrative Offices on Locust Street.