Joe Hoage, Commissioner of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles talks to residents as their reflections surround him during a public hearing by the BMV on Wednesday about a proposal to close the Hobart license branch. The meeting took place at the city's Community Center in Festival Park on Oct. 5, 2022. (John Smierciak/Post Tribune)
Despite pleas from the community last month, the state is closing the Hobart license branch Dec. 10.
“The decision to close Hobart came after careful consideration of the impassioned response from Hobart residents,” said BMV Commissioner Joe Hoage on Wednesday.
“It is not an easy decision to close a branch, but with three other locations in close proximity, residents have several other options on where to conduct their business,” he said.
Hoage said there are three branches located within a 10-mile radius of Hobart including Gary, Merrillville, and Portage.
About 45 people pushed back against the closing last month at a public hearing.
Hoage told them it was proposed because of reduced foot traffic amounting to about a 27% drop in use at the branch located at 7744 E. 37th Ave. near a Strack and Van Til supermarket.
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A BMV analysis showed the branch conducted 64,856 transactions in 2018. So far this year, there have been 56,592, Hoage said on Oct. 5.
The hearing drew residents and local officials from Hobart, Lake Station and New Chicago who opposed the closing.
Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor said Wednesday he was disappointed by the outcome.
“It is disheartening that the decision was made solely on numbers and dollars. This will now require those people to have to travel to our BMV on the south end of our city or to the Portage branch,” he said.
“Sometimes the better good of a community or area of the State is not based only on dollars.”
State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary, whose district includes Hobart, Lake Station and New Chicago, also voiced disappointment.
“Many will be hurt by the shutdown, including the elderly, those without reliable transportation, anyone with a disability and residents who struggle with the internet or lack access to it. The Hobart branch was also used by residents of Gary, Lake Station and New Chicago,” she said.
Lake Station Mayor Bill Carroll expressed anger with the decision.
“It’s disgusting that the state has forgotten us to the east of 65 in Lake County. We are a lower income area, with a large elder population and a very large multicultural area… Why do we pay taxes to the state if they leave all the money in the middle of the state?” said Carroll.
Snedecor and State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, worked with the state to find another location in Hobart.
“After multiple attempts to urge the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to keep the Hobart license branch open, I’m incredibly disappointed to hear of their final decision,” said Melton, whose district includes Hobart.
“As usual, Northwest Indiana residents will be negatively impacted by decisions being made in Indianapolis. This is nothing new, and it’s frustrating to see our region repeatedly on the receiving end of decisions that will hinder and burden our residents,” Melton said.
He urged residents to reach out to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office to express their concerns.
New Chicago town manager Sue Pelfrey said the closing will have a profound impact on the elderly and those who are not tech-savvy.
“We hope Hobart and the BMV can work together to install a kiosk that might benefit New Chicago residents without having to travel to another county,” she said.
Hobart will be the ninth branch closed statewide since 2019. More than a dozen other branches have downsized or relocated as consumers shift to online transactions.
In Lake County, the BMV has kiosks in Griffith, Crown Point, according to its website. After Hobart closes, it will have branches in Merrillville, Schererville, Griffith, Crown Point, East Chicago, Hammond, and Gary.
In Porter County, there are branches in Portage, along with a kiosk, and in Valparaiso.
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