By james art 
What is one place of state government that most of you wish you never had to visit? I know you have a few, but I guess the office of motor vehicles is in the top five.
It’s not because it’s a terrible place. People are doing great work there.
But it’s usually crowded and busy and out of the way. Sitting in the waiting room can be a little nerve wracking at times.
Just mentioning OMV will get to some people.
This will not be an attack on a necessary government agency that has to deal with many people throughout the day. Not at all. It’s commendable to a special person in a sea of impersonal people who give their all for a job that doesn’t get applause.
Ed Pratt
I recently had to do official business involving a car I own that won’t be on the street anytime soon. It was an insurance thing.
I arrived around mid-morning on Tuesday with documents in hand and was prepared to be there for a while because this is what happens at OMV. Sure enough, when I walked in, there was a line leading to the information desk. Many seats in the waiting area were already full.
The look on the faces of those waiting, some with children, were those of people who seemed to wish they were anywhere else. Again, I don’t blame OMV for the situation.
After waiting about 20 minutes to get to the front desk, the woman announced, “Who has an appointment?” Then most behind me moved to create a separate line next to me. The clerk began to speak to them.
Looking at the frown on my face, she told me I would have to make an appointment. She gave me a slip telling me how to set up the appointment and off I went. I wasn’t too happy, but that’s the process.
The next day, armed with an appointment, I showed the details to the clerk and took my place among the many other seated people. About 25 minutes later I heard someone call me. A woman standing behind the counter said “Mr. Pratt, go to counter counter (can’t remember so let’s say 22). “
Well I was standing around looking for the desk, I didn’t look high enough on the wall to see the number. My wife yelled and directed me to look up and there it was “22.”
I felt like the other idiot in the village. She smiled and said, “That happens sometimes.” Probably not too often, though.
I sat and waited for the cold bureaucratic mumbo jumbo from someone who wanted her day to be over. But I didn’t get it. Not at all. She smiled at me and explained everything in short order.
I asked questions and she was ready and happy to answer, never saying “Hey dude, I’ve already answered this question a few times.”
Then for some reason I felt compelled to tell her a little about myself. Wait, now I was wasting her time with useless talk. She listened and even asked a question as she continued to process my paperwork.
She was nice enough to leave me some tips when I returned the OMV information back to my vehicle insurer.
“Just make sure you’re clear about what the insurance company is going to do and that you agree with everything,” she said.
I thanked her and felt good when I went to OMV. Then I was stunned to discover that our entire, wonderful encounter had lasted less than 10 minutes.
So here’s a big “thank you” to Stephanie Porter. I know people in your position don’t get enough of it.
And here’s a tip of the hat to all the workers who do their best every day in such difficult and thankless positions.
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