The Griffith branch of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles may close its doors in the near future.
But before a decision is made, Indiana BMV officials will take public comment on the matter on Aug. 14. The hearing will take place at 6 p.m. at Griffith Town Hall.
In support of keeping the BMV open, the Griffith Town Council on Tuesday passed a resolution officially opposing the closure.
“It’s not a done deal yet,” said Town Council President Rick Ryfa, R-3rd, encouraging Griffith residents and people from neighboring communities who use the Griffith BMV branch to have their voices heard.
Ryfa emphasized that the Griffith branch at 1038 Ridge Rd. is one of the busier BMV locations, but wasn’t sure why the state had designs on closing it.
“Closing the branch will create an undue hardship for those with limited transportation or have mobility issues,” he said, noting 1300 homes in the Park West Apartments complex who would have to travel further to another branch.
In a fact sheet about the proposed closure, the BMV said transactions have declined by 36% since 2018 at the Griffith branch. In-branch transactions by Griffith residents dipped 28% between 2018 and 2023, while out-of-branch transactions — by internet, phone, mail or kiosk — increased 25% in that same time period, the BMV stated. In 2023 alone, out-of-branch transactions by Griffith residents exceeded those completed in the Griffith branch.
The BMV said no jobs would be lost by the closure as staff would be reassigned to different locations, according to the release.
In Lake County, the BMV operates branches in Merrillville, Schererville, Griffith, Crown Point, East Chicago, Hammond, and Gary. It has kiosks in Griffith, Crown Point, and Schererville according to its website. The BMV said it plans to install additional kiosks at the Merrillville and Hammond branches.
In Porter County, there are branches in Portage and Valparaiso, which both have kiosks.
In December 2022, BMV closed the Hobart location at 7744 E. 37th Ave. because the BMV said it didn’t generate enough foot traffic to justify its expense.
State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster, is joining in the opposition to the Griffith branch closure, encouraging people to attend the public hearing.
“The Griffith BMV branch plays a significant role in our community, providing essential and accessible services to residents,” Andrade said in a statement. “As discussions continue about consolidation, your feedback is invaluable in ensuring the needs and perspectives of our community are fully represented. The August 14 hearing is a critical opportunity for constituents to express their opinions and concerns about the potential closure of this vital community resource. I encourage all residents to participate in this public hearing to voice their views, ask questions and learn more about the implications of this proposed change.”
The public may provide speak at the hearing or submit written comments to: bmvpublichearing@bmv.in.gov. Emailed comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. August 14 to be considered part of the record, BMV officials said.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.