No DMV Examiners In Nemaha County Under Six-Month Pilot Program

Nemaha County officials discussed Wednesday morning, April 22, changes to the drivers licensing examination schedules in the county.
Jana Gerdes, county treasurer, informed the county officials as of Friday, May 1, driver’s license examiners with the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will not be in the county under a six month pilot program.
Several problems were presented. Those included inconvenience to county residents, particularly the elderly and first time drivers. Anyone 72 years or age or older has to renew their driver’s license in person, they cannot renew online. Some do not have computers to extend their license online. 
Gerdes noted DMV has new technology statewide and has been training staff on new hardware and software as well as dealing with staffing shortages. She recalled the examiners were in Nemaha County most weeks in January; and once each in February and April to date. The examiners planned to be in the county Wednesday, April 29. Examiners have been in both Nemaha and Richardson counties Wednesdays. They are in Johnson and Pawnee counties every other week. The treasurer related issues have affected other regional counties.
She said Nemaha County has been the only county with a site to do motorcycle tests.  Tests have occurred in the parking lot of the 4-H Building on the county fairgrounds. The next closest motorcycle testing location is in Beatrice.
Issues DMV has presented include accessibility to physically impacted individuals and that the chair lift in the Nemaha County Courthouse is not feasible. Other examination sites are available within a 20 to 30 mile radius. Those include Nebraska City, Falls City and Tecumseh.
Later in the meeting, the commissioners discussed the concerns with Beth Bazyn Ferrell, legal counsel with the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO). They asked if anyone with the state association is able to help. Ferrell replied DMV is trying to consolidate and centralize locations. She agreed to ask NACO representatives about the issue.
Michael Weiss, chair and District 3 commissioners, stated he will request a printout of numbers served in the county. There were 1,500 persons served in 2025. He also planned to contact District 1 Sen. Robert Hallstrom.