Before the full fiscal court meeting on Aug. 20 the Barren County Administration and Budget Committee met to discuss the possibility of a regional driver's license office. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
In the small conference room adjoining the Barren County Fiscal Court chambers the Administration and Budget Committee met to discuss, among other things, the regional license offices and the potential of one locating in Barren County.
“I want the public to know we’ve heard their complaints,” Barren County Magistrate and committee chairman Marty Kinslow said. “I want everyone to know that while we technically cannot do anything, we are in support of [a regional office locating in Barren County] and what little bit we can do we are going to do.”
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the regional offices are the “new home for licensing services [that were] previously offered at the office of the Circuit Court Clerk in each county.” The regional offices offer several licensing services for both drivers and vehicles. Perhaps chief among these offered services is the ability for the offices to issue REAL IDs, which, after the enforcement date on May 7, 2025, allows the carrier to visit federal buildings and go through security checkpoints for U.S. flights.
Currently, Barren Countians have to either travel to Bowling Green or Columbia to visit a regional office.
Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd explained that the county “is next on the list” of possible regional office locations and “pleading their case” for one, but, because it is dependent of the state legislature allocating the necessary funds, most likely would not happen in the near future. She also said that as an added incentive, she offered the office space if they need it.
“We have the space, if they need it,” Byrd said. “But the space isn’t the problem, it’s more of the funding; they’ve got to get the funding approved by the legislature to cover things like staffing. As an added bonus I told them we could provide space.”
“I think it’s coming though,” Byrd added.
Kinslow gave his, and during the fiscal court meeting on Aug. 20 his committee’s, full-throated support saying “there’s no reason not to support this.” He not only mentioned convenience but also the possible economic impact of a regional office in Barren County talking about his experience driving to Columbia to get a renewal and seeing “at least 14 people” working in the office there.
“All those people would have jobs in Barren County,” Kinslow said. “Now instead of going to Warren or Adair counties all these people from Allen, Metcalf and Monroe [counties] are going to come to Barren County to get their driver’s license, and what do they do when they come to Glasgow? They spend money.”
“This would be an economic boon for us,” he added.
He encouraged all those present to lobby the people the magistrates know in the state government to possible propel this forward — specifically Agricultural Commissioner Jonathan Shell was mentioned.
Byrd said there are plans to conduct the road tests within the county within the next few months, but did not have many specifics as of yet.
“We are doing everything we can to make it happen, but we still are at the beck-and-call of the state on this,” Byrd said.
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