“As schools moved further and further into distance learning we knew it was going to put added stress on our families,” said License Center Manager John Lenarz. “Like any business you have to juggle that.”
As a result, the Ramsey license office closed in mid-November so workers there could help staff other offices like Blaine and Coon Rapids. That closure has been extended to mid-January.
“If we close one office down it frees up staff to work in our other centers, and impacts the fewest amount of customers,” said Lenarz.
Doing in person business at the centers does require an appointment. To get one of those, its best to plan ahead since the centers are currently booked two months out.
Lenarz says people are re-discovering the drop box outside. No appointment is needed and usage has increased from about a dozen a day to several hundred. But he says appointments may be part of a long term plan.
“My goal is to do a hybrid,” said Lenarz. “We’ll still have appointments but be able to handle people who walk in also. That’s our goal is to be able to handle both.”
These challenges come at a time when the state is rolling out a new computer system to replace the troubled MnLARS software
“There was a lot of apprehension but a number of us worked with the state and the developer of the program.”
Lenarz says so far its working well, with only minor issues. The effort to get through all those challenges was noticed by at least one Anoka County Commissioner.
“Our license and pass port centers have been inundated with business during the pandemic and that has been a challenge,” said Commissioner Robyn West. “But they’ve handled this influx well.”
West says work is currently underway to upgrade the License Centers’ website and phone system which is getting heavy use by the public. She adds work is also underway to develop methods to upload documents to review before submitting them to help expedite the processing.
