By James B. Bartle
The State of Missouri Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle License Office in Sullivan has been awarded to a Viburnum couple who plans to relocate the office from downtown Sullivan.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced that seven offices were awarded on Thursday to prospective bidders.
Jackie and Steve Vaughn, Viburnum, have been selected to be the new agents for the Sullivan License Office. The office, currently located at 4 West Main Street, will move to a new location at 111 Progress Drive. Jackie Vaughn had previous experience working at the Viburnum, Potosi and Sullivan offices. The agents promised no return to the state in the only bid submitted for the office.
“In the past, license offices were given out at the Governor’s discretion; in many cases, to his political allies,” said Nixon. “Now an open and transparent competitive process is used, and professional evaluation teams award the bids based on financial efficiencies and customer service. This new system promotes innovation, and opens up the potential management of these offices to anyone who is willing to submit a quality bid.”
The new bidding of offices became a state law this past summer. The new law was overwhelmingly approved by both the Republican and Democratic members of the Missouri Legislature.
It is not known, at press time, exactly when the Sullivan License Office will relocate from downtown Sullivan to Progress Drive.