HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-19-2008-11aARY M 4 Of\
MEMORANDUM
To: County Commissioners
From: Joyce Pearson, Register of Deeds
Jo Roberson, Revenue Director
John Smith, Assessor /Land Records
Subject: Plans for the Upcoming Relocation
Date: February 14, 2008
We are excited'to report that within the next few weeks the Register of
Deeds and the Revenue and Assessor/Land Records Departments will be
relocating to the new Gateway Center at 228 S. Churton Street,
Hillsborough.
As the Board will recall, furniture for the new facility was approved on
February 5, 2008. It will be delivered and installed around the first week of
March in preparation for the departments to move their records and other
departmental items during the weekend of March 15. We are proposing
to close offices to the public on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March
18 so the staff may set up and organize offices and public areas to provide
the appropriate level of customer service on the first day of operation in
the new building. The first day of operation at the new location will be
Wednesday, March 19, 2008.
Through the collaborative efforts of the affected Departments, the
Manager's office and County Commissioner's office a plan is being
formulated to inform and educate our residents about the relocation so its
effect on them will be minimized. A list of proposed outreach actions is
attached to this memorandum.
Further, on March 17 and 18 when the offices are closed, the phone lines
to the main departmental telephone numbers will be directed to a voice
mail system that will provide pertinent information about the offices being
closed, reopening date, new location and service alternatives for paying
taxes. Callers may choose to leave their name, number and a brief
description of their need. Voice mail will be checked several times during
working hours on Monday and Tuesday and calls will be forwarded to the
appropriate employees for response on Wednesday, March 19th For your
information, only tax payments at the Hillsborough office will be affected.
Payments may still be made through the mail, by credit card using the
online or telephone service, or in person at the Chapel Hill Town Hall
Revenue office. The County's tax records will be available as usual online
as well.
In addition, by the end of business on Friday, February 22, 2008 the
Register of Deeds will be individually notifying all attorneys, paralegals,
and lending institutions of the relocation plans, including dates during
which the office will be closed. This advance notification will allow them to
appropriately schedule closings and other proceedings that might require
recordation of documents with the Register's Office.
The Department Directors and the Register of Deeds have provided what
we consider to be a thoughtful plan for the transition to the new space.
While any move is disruptive, we have attempted to minimize the impact
of the move on the residents whom we serve. We appreciate the Board's
consideration during this time of transition and look forward to scheduling
an open house to showcase the new facility in Spring 2008. In the
meantime, we would be glad to address any questions or concerns of
Board members. Please feel free to call us directly.
Ways to Notify Our Citizens of the move to Gateway
• Send inserts in our billings sent out in the month of March and April to ensure
that citizens "see" our move prior to their attempting to visiting.
• Register of Deeds will be sending a letter notifying all attorneys, paralegals, and
lending institutions of the close of her office for this move.
• Place posters in all county locations indicating that our offices are moving, when
and to where.
• Place flyers for citizens in all county locations
• Put move information on County's main Website and also on all individual sites,
ie: Register of Deeds, Assessor, GIS, and Revenue
• Utilize all public forums for advertisement such as Newspaper, Television
• Send county employees notice with pay stubs prior to move taking place
• Posters in All County Buildings where citizens visit.
• Posters in all Town Administrative Offices
• Posters at all Library locations
• Notice of move including in Delinquent Real Property Advertisement to take
place March 12, 2008.
• Press releases
• Banner hung on the GSC building announcing the move and the who and where.