Public hearing to address proposed closing of West Lafayette BMV
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The West Lafayette office of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles is tucked away behind retail and office spaces along Sagamore Parkway in the 700 block of Navajo Drive.
The office could be on the proverbial chopping block — its proposed closing the focus of an upcoming public hearing.
The Indiana BMV posted a notice Wednesday announcing the date of a public hearing on the proposed closure of the West Lafayette BMV branch, located at 720 W. Navajo St.
The hearing, 6 p.m. Oct. 26, will be held at 222 N. Chauncey Ave. in West Lafayette.
The BMV office sits in an ideal geographical location for those calling West Lafayette home, said state Rep. Chris Campbell, telling the Journal & Courier she has already sent a letter to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles asking that the department consider not closing the location.
"I just felt that we have a large number of people coming into West Lafayette, including international students at Purdue," said Campbell, who represents West Lafayette in the General Assembly, "I think it's beneficial to keep that office open for that reason."
Campbell said she alerted neighbors to the upcoming public hearing and is optimistic, from the initial response, a large number of people could be expected to attend Oct. 26.
"I think it's important for people who feel strongly one way or another to let their voices be heard," Campbell said Wednesday. "I would assume that people will respond."
In recent months, the BMV also posted notices for public hearings related to proposed closings in such locations as Danville, Nappanee and Alexandria, Ind.
In the case of Danville, the BMV location was closed, according to an announcement on Oct. 6. Nappanee, with a population just under 7,000, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, also lost its branch.
Optimism was rewarded in Alexandria, however, as the BMV announced on Sept. 29 that location would be spared.
“The decision to remain open (in Alexandria) was made after careful deliberation, including considering impassioned community testimony,” said Commissioner Joe B. Hoage stated in the release. "We will continue monitoring transaction volume over the next two years and report those trends to local and state officials. If transaction volume continues to decline, the branch will be closed in 2024."
The public is invited to attend the hearing on the West Lafayette branch, but those unable to make the Oct. 26 event can email comment to bmvpublichearing@bmv.in.gov to express your thoughts on this issue. Emails must be sent by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 26.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Public hearing to address proposed closing of West Lafayette BMV
