October 2021 Transition Tracker: Issue No. 6

Bath Circuit Court Clerk Claudette Faudere was informed in mid-July that her office would be transferring its licensing responsibilities to the Transportation Cabinet in late August as part of a new statewide model to regionalize driver services. 

Immediately upon learning her office's official transition date, Faudere posted several KYTC signs to inform residents of the change.

“I could tell a big difference once permits and road testing moved out of our office in April to the regional office in Rowan County,” she said. “I could tell a big difference by not having the volume of traffic with the kids, the parents and the families, and that is the part I’m going to miss the most.”

By month's end, the issuance of driver services in 67 Circuit Court Clerks' offices will have been transferred by KYTC to its network of regional offices and moves KYTC just beyond the halfway point in transitioning all 120 Circuit Court Clerks by June 30, 2022.

Faudere first visited the Bath Circuit Court Clerk's office at 16 years old seeking her driver's license. 

Six years later, she would become a deputy clerk for 14 years and, in 2006, would become the clerk of the very office that issued her first driver's license two decades earlier.

For Faudere and her six staff members, the transition away from licensing hit home Oct. 5 when KYTC contractor, Idemia Government Solutions, removed the issuing camera and printer from their office.

It took Idemia about 30 minutes to disassemble Faudere’s licensing equipment, leaving behind only the workstation, keyboard, mouse and monitor for the Kentucky Commonwealth Office of Technology to remove, and a black, waist-high security safe that KYTC will remove.

Faudere said her office will continue to help the public as much as possible. Her advice to clerks awaiting transition is to find every possible way to get the word out on the state's new licensing model, especially through local media. 

Russell County

It has been several months since Russell Circuit Court Clerk Tony Kerr issued a credential from his office. Kerr was one of the first offices transitioned from credentialing by KYTC on April 26.  

While he agrees his role as Circuit Court Clerk has changed, it hasn’t stopped Kerr from helping his citizens in any way possible.

“It has changed from someone who can actually issue the license to one who can help facilitate the issuance,” said Kerr, who has been in office 28 years. 

Kerr and his 10 deputies continue to help the residents of Russell County book appointments to test with Kentucky State Police or visit a nearby KYTC regional office. For those residents without a computer who wish to renew online, Kerr’s office assists using KYTC’s Online Renewal program.

“I’m still a public servant,” Kerr said. “I was not in favor of licensing leaving but that didn’t mean that I wasn’t going to do everything I could and not try and help. I have to help. As the Circuit Clerk, people are still looking to me, and I’m going to help them any way I can.”

He said that when the announcement came of the transition he got the word out "any way possible!" He first informed his staff about the change "because we all have to be on the same page in order to succeed." 

Having a radio background, Kerr discussed the transition on his weekly radio show, including an interview with KYTC staff. 

"Clerks in small counties especially will find that radio stations will want to talk to them because it is something of interest," he said. "Reach out to your local media: your newspaper, your local radio stations and local cable community channel." 

Hardin County

Hardin Circuit Court Clerk Loretta Crady has worked in the clerks office 27 years, first as a deputy in 1995 then chief deputy in 2001 until 2007 when she became the clerk. 

Crady, whose office transitioned away from licensing May 24, has a white board in her lobby with the address and contact information of KYTC’s Elizabethtown Driver Licensing Regional Office.

“We have used this all during the transition to keep the public informed,” she said. “We continue to get phone calls and give out the information for the websites to KYTC and KSP.”

Crady said clerks awaiting transition need to have "drive.ky.gov" and "kentuckystatepolice.org" printed on paper to hand out to all office visitors. 

Martin County

Martin Circuit Court Clerk Denise Gauze said when she started her job in January 2019, she never imagined the office would discontinue issuing credentials. 

“No. I did not expect this transition, but I have high hopes of the new method being successful and convenient for all citizens,” she said.

Gauze, who transitioned from licensing July 26, said to lessen the impact on her office and citizens, she prominently displays brochures provided by KYTC or ones she creates; the address and phone number of the closest regional office; and the Division of Customer Service phone number – 502-564-1257.      

“The advice I would give those clerks who are awaiting transitioning would be to communicate to their citizens about the upcoming changes in a positive manner by providing information regarding the ease of renewals,” she said. “I realize we all have plenty of citizens who do not have access to online technology, but I would encourage all citizens to seek out family members who may be able to help them with that, as well as, let them know about the renewal options.”

AOC

The transition is providing Circuit Court Clerks the ability to utilize and cross-train their staff in other office areas. 

Administrative Office of the Kentucky Courts Director Laurie Dudgeon and Deputy Director Jason McGinnis said the "Circuit Court Clerks have made a really strong effort to cross-train the existing workforce, becoming more flexible in who handles tasks in the office. Doing so will make the office much more stable and allow for a smooth operation.”

They advise the remaining 53 Circuit Court Clerks to be patient as the transition moves forward. “The transition continues to be smooth, which we attribute to strong communication by all parties involved," they said.