By Gary Lloyd
CLAY — More than 100 car tags were sold at Clay City Hall in the first month of the operation, according to Clay City Manager Ronnie Dixon.
Car tag sales and renewals began at Clay City Hall on Aug. 4, and the first day went “extremely well,” Clay Administrative Assistant Andrea Self said last month. Dixon said last week that there were no glitches in the software or complaints from citizens.
Dixon said there were approximately 35 to 40 customers during the month of August, about what city officials expected.
Eight transactions were processed on the first day of operation last month, averaging less than 10 minutes each.
Gov. Robert Bentley earlier this year signed into law HB 112, which authorizes Jefferson County cities to issue car tags.
Online tag sales for Clay residents will also be processed at Clay City Hall and will generally arrive at the customer’s home a day or two after being ordered.
A $5 fee will be applied to any tags renewed at Clay City Hall.
The city of Trussville earlier this year sent three employees to Montgomery for three days for training with the Alabama Department of Revenue, to learn to use the department’s programs and expectations with issuing vehicle tags. There is no set date on when Trussville may implement the program at Trussville City Hall.
Mayor Gene Melton said in early July that Trussville was “still working on the details” of when it may open Trussville City Hall for the issuance of car tags.
One of the questions on a survey mailed to more than 8,000 Trussville addresses in November 2013 by Melton asked if residents would renew vehicle tags at Trussville City Hall if allowed to do so. Of 1,048 responses to the question, 985 said they’d favor the renewal process at Trussville City Hall. Just 63 said they would not favor it.
Dixon said that if Trussville moves forward with car tag renewals, it would take a “big load off Jefferson County.”
Pinson will not consider issuing car tags at Pinson City Hall at this time.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.