Cullman County residents now have three locations to choose from when purchasing hunting, fishing, boating and business licenses.

Probate Judge Betty Brewer and a host of local officials and dignitaries cut ribbons Tuesday officially opening satellite offices in Dodge City and Baileyton.

The offices of probate will share space in Revenue Commissioner Kay D. Williams-Smith’s satellite offices, which opened in April 2002.

“This is a big day for our office. This is something we’ve been working toward ever since Kay (Smith) opened her satellite offices,” Brewer said. “I feel like opening these offices will really help people who live out in the county by making it more convenient for them to purchase their tags and licenses in Dodge City and Baileyton instead of having to drive into town.”

Brewer informed members of the County Commission earlier this month that she saved $31,000 from funds already budgeted to pay the cost of equipping and staffing the offices.

“We’re paying all costs from fees we collect within the probate office. There is no cost to the county commission,” Brewer said.

As for staffing, Brewer said courthouse personnel will man the office on a rotating basis until additional employees can be trained.

“We’ll place one employee at each office, but we probably won’t have a permanent person in place until after the first of the year,” Brewer said. “Office hours at the satellite offices will be the same as those at the courthouse Ñ 8 a.m. to 4:30 Monday through Friday.”

Dodge City Mayor Perry Ray and Baileyton Mayor Paul Bailey assisted Brewer with the ribbon cuttings.

“We’re very pleased that the probate judge now has an office here in Dodge City,” Ray said. “The Revenue Commission office opened and it really brought in the traffic and I feel the probate office will do the same thing. We’re proud to have them.”

Bailey said the added convenience for residents, particularly the elderly, will really make a difference.

“We’re delighted the probate office is opening here. It will certainly be a convenience to the people who live in this area, who have to drive a good distance back and forth to Cullman,” Bailey said. “It is especially going to be convenient for our elderly residents who sometimes have difficulty making the trip to Cullman.”

Inez McDonald, a member of the Dodge City Town Council, said the opening of the office is a great thing for the community.

“The office is going to provide a great service. It’s going to be so wonderful not to have to drive all the way into town and stand in line at the courthouse,” McDonald said. “I’m thrilled about our town and all the growth that is taking place and having the revenue commission and probate offices here will only add to that.”

Lloyd Goodwin, a long-time resident of Dodge City, told officials he wanted a piece of the ribbon to put in a commemorative scrapbook he is keeping on the town.

“I think this is one of the grandest things to ever happen here. It is really going to help our older folks. Now they won’t have to drive into Cullman and climb all of those steps to get inside the courthouse. Here, you can drive right up to the door,” Goodwin said. “The only reason I’ll have to go to the courthouse now is to renew my driver’s license.”

Brewer is hopeful the day will come when the satellite offices will also be able to handle driver’s licenses.

“That won’t happen right away, but it’s something we are working toward,” Brewer said.

County Commission Chairman Wiley Kitchens and Revenue Commissioner Kay Smith were among the local officials attending the open houses Tuesday.

“Any time you can make it more convenient for the public to have access to local government it’s good for the community,” Kitchens said.

Smith agreed, noting that she wished the two offices could have opened together in 2002.

“It didn’t work out for Betty to be able to open her satellite offices then, but now I’m just tickled that it has finally happened,” Smith said. “We’ve been working for this for quite a while and I truly believe it is something that is going to benefit the community.”