Good morning.

Thank you, G.R. for that introduction.

G.R. is a friend and an excellent board member-and I consider it an honor to work with him.

We are also glad to have Chief Deputy Gene Conti with us today.

It is a wonderful occasion that brings us together this morning.

We are here to dedicate this building, the new home of the Sanford DMV and Highway Patrol.

This new Sanford facility represents our continued emphasis on efficiency and customer service-and is a symbol of a long-standing partnership we have with the Highway Patrol.

The DOT and the Highway Patrol have an agreement between our two agencies to build and maintain facilities together-so we can better serve our citizens.

There are now 60 buildings throughout the state which host DMV and the Highway Patrol in the same facility.

This 4,273 square foot building, which opened on February 12, is home to Driver's License examiners, DMV enforcement officers, a school bus safety coordinator and Highway Patrol personnel.

The original plan was to renovate and add on to the existing building, which was an old house on land that was hard to access.

But when local officials heard of this plan, they came to us with an offer to help locate a different site that would be more accessible and customer friendly.

The county found and purchased a new tract of land in exchange for the land and house which was the site of the original DMV/Highway Patrol Office.

This is another fine example of the local community partnering with the state to bring improved and enhanced customer service to the area.

This project was a win-win situation for everyone: DOT, DMV, the Highway Patrol-and the citizens of Lee County who will visit and use this office.

By working side by side in the same building, DMV and the Highway Patrol can offer a variety of streamlined services for customers which will help improve efficiency in both agencies.

At DMV, we are still working hard to identify internal efficiencies that can save us time and money while maintaining the high level of service that our customers have come to expect.

I'm proud to report that our efforts are paying off.

Last year capped an unprecedented amount of activity at DMV-activity mainly focused on improving operation efficiency and expanding customer service.

In 2001, DMV placed special emphasis on providing new service options for citizens by introducing "Click @ DMV"-a menu of new internet based services.

In March, we implemented a new internet service which allows citizens to obtain a duplicate registration card.

And in August, the Driver License Section began offering citizens the option to obtain a duplicate Driver License with an address change.

To improve customer service, this section also installed an electronic queuing system in 17 of the state's busiest offices.

This system makes customers aware of the wait time for each service when they enter the office. It also optimizes the level of service by using all available staff resources so that management can monitor the busiest time of day and busiest days of the month to make sure the office is properly staffed.

Even though we have served over 500,000 customers via the internet, there still is a need for improved facilities to serve those who must still visit our offices in person.

Before I close, I'd like to recognize some of the folks who are responsible for making this building project a reality.

As usual, G.R. Kindley gives his all to any project that will help the citizens he represents.

The Sanford DMV/Highway Patrol Office building is no exception.

Maybe that's because G.R. served as a proud Highway Patrolman for seven years in Richmond County after he served his country in the military.

G.R. led a joint effort by the state and the local community to get this project funded and constructed.

He also provided the small urban funds for the access road leading up to the building.

We are fortunate that law enforcement holds such a special place in his heart-and we are even more grateful that he works with us now!

We also want to thank the Lee County Commissioners for their dedication to this project-and for working so closely with G.R., the Department and the Highway Patrol.

Finally, we thank Colonel Holden and the Highway Patrol, for their friendship with DMV over the years-and for the invaluable service they provide to the citizens of North Carolina.

We are proud to stand with the Highway Patrol to dedicate this building today-and hope that the citizens of Lee County will benefit from the many services offered here.

It stands as a symbol of our enduring partnership-and will be a permanent reminder of our common commitment to serving the people of this community.

This is another way we are working together to ensure that Governor Easley's vision of One North Carolina is realized.

(G.R. KINDLEY CLOSES PROGRAM.)

(YOU, COLONEL HOLDEN AND G.R. KINDLEY CUT THE RIBBON.)

(PIO STAFF WILL BE THERE TO DIRECT YOU TO THE RIBBON.)