Mesa County Commissioners approve reopening Fruita’s DMV

Fulfilling a campaign promise, the new Clerk and Recorder got approval Monday from Mesa County Commissioners for the Fruita DMV to reopen.

"It just makes sense to offer this,” said Tina Peters, Mesa County Clerk & Recorder.

It’s a big win for people in Fruita and Peters, the new Clerk and Recorder.

"I made that promise to them and today was a giant step in fulfilling that promise to the citizens of Mesa County,” said Peters.

She campaigned on a promise to reopen the Fruita DMV last election. The office closed down back in 2016 due to lack of funding. On Monday, Commissioners gave the go ahead.

"When you have to go to Junction it feels like it takes a whole day especially when you have a little one in tow,” said Lakell Archer, Fruita resident.

"It’s horrible it just takes so much time, even with those kiosks,” said Sandra Stegall, Fruita resident.

Commissioners say it'll only cost an additional $150 a month to run the service.

"That was an amenity that the citizens of Fruita were accustomed to having and it was missed and so we are glad that they were able to allow it to come back,” said Lori Buck, Fruita Mayor Pro Tem.

"It's just more convenient, and I think people would enjoy having that option here,” said Archer.

The goal is to save time and money.

"With two and two and a half hour waits in the central services this past year, I just saw, as a former business person, it just made sense to do this,” said Peters.

The Fruita DMV will open in the spring and will operate two days a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"Anytime you can get things done in Fruita, just living here it's nice,” said Archer.

Peters says they're waiting on the state DMV to provide the computers and printers.

County staff will be relocated to work the new positions.