Dickinson commission directs staff to begin steps to bring motor vehicle office under city management

The Dickinson City Commission on May 20 authorized staff to begin the process to absorb the local motor vehicle office currently operated under private contract at the T-Rex Mall.

City Administrator Dossinger told the commission the city's proposal would not include the state-run driver's license division (staff said that division is run by state employees). The city's plan covers the motor vehicle services currently provided under contract, and staff presented a draft budget and staffing model projecting five employees — four at grade 12 and one at grade 15 — to operate the facility.

Dossinger said revenue assumptions were modeled on three years of profit-and-loss reports (2022–2024) and rely on fee income: $10 for title work plus $2 registration and $2 administrative fees per transaction. For the remainder of 2025, staff projected roughly $48,000 in revenue over expenses; for 2026 the projection was about $118,000 revenue over expenses. Dossinger said the draft budget did not include kiosk or ATM revenues.

Commissioners asked whether the motion would authorize full takeover or only the initiation of the steps required to do so. Dossinger clarified the motion would start the approval process, finalize job descriptions, begin hiring, and finalize an MOU with the state and necessary discussions with the current contractor.

Commissioner Frederick moved to begin the process; the motion carried unanimously.

Ending: Staff will bring back job descriptions, a finalized budget and the proposed memorandum of understanding with the state for future commission action.