By Gary Lloyd
CLAY — A new service of offering Clay residents the option of renewing and buying vehicle tags at Clay City Hall could already be in jeopardy.
Clay City Manager Ronnie Dixon said Jefferson County asked for an attorney general’s opinion and the county attorney sent a “demand letter” to the cities of Clay, Irondale and Vestavia Hills, which offer the service to their residents.
Dixon said the letter claims the city is an agent of the county, not the state, and demands all money be sent to the county “and they would disperse to correct entities.”
The cities collect a service fee to provide the service so that residents don’t have to wait in long county courthouse lines.
The debate is whether the cities or Jefferson County should get the money from those fees. If it goes to the county, then cities will likely not be able to provide the service anymore.
“We will continue to sell tags,” Dixon said. “If the county decides to sue the three cities involved then we would defend it if necessary. I think the legislature would make changes in the bill before that happened. The ball is in the county’s court now.”
Vehicle tag sales began in Clay on Aug. 4, and more than 100 were sold in the first month of the operation.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.