Treasurer's office labor shortage, long lines spur push for kiosks, staffing and hours review

Pennington County Treasurer Annette Brandt told the Board of Commissioners the busiest county front-line office is grappling with long in-person wait times for motor-vehicle and title work and presented a mix of near-term and technology-based responses she said could reduce lines.

Lede and why it matters: Brandt said her office handled a surge in complex title work during a software conversion and that some motor-vehicle visitors now face average waits measured in tens of minutes to more than an hour for title transfers. Those delays affect citizens paying taxes, registering vehicles and getting urgent documents; commissioners pressed for near-term solutions including temporary hires and more self-service terminals.

What the treasurer proposed: Brandt said the office has 26.75 staff positions and that eight are experienced, long-term employees; the office currently has a number of employees with fewer than four years on the job and seven were hired this year. She said she is asking for limited…