FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 6, 2011

CONTACT:
Carmella Sabaugh: 586-469-7939
Tracy Ward, Sec. of State office: 517-373-2520

Secretary of State, Macomb County Clerk
to offer one-stop shopping on select dates

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh today announced a joint effort to increase access to clerk and register of deeds services, and ensure birth records are available for driver’s license applicants.

“Government at all levels has to look at ways to provide good service and make it cost-effective,” Johnson said. “This effort with the Macomb County Clerk’s office is part of our ongoing efforts to look at where we can save money and streamline operations with public-public partnerships.”

Sabaugh will bring her county clerk mobile office services to all seven Secretary of State branch offices located in Macomb County on select days in July and August. This will allow customers to handle both Secretary of State and county business in a single trip, saving time and even gas money.

“Providing one-stop shopping for birth records and driver’s licenses will improve service,” Sabaugh said. “I am honored that Secretary Johnson agreed to host county clerk services for Macomb County residents.”

Sabaugh says parents may wish to take advantage of this opportunity to obtain their child’s birth certificate before school starts. There is no extra cost to taxpayers because existing staff and resources are being used.

Macomb County Clerk services will be available in the following Secretary of State offices from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on these dates:

Other county clerk services to be offered include real estate deed and mortgage records, death certificates, business registrations, marriage licenses, circuit court records, concealed pistol applications and voter registration. Only Macomb County records will be available. A list of fees is attached.

Johnson and Sabaugh said they will evaluate the service before making decisions on future dates. Their last collaboration was to work on mortgage redemption reform, which became law last December thanks to former State Rep. Fred Miller and State Sen. Nancy Cassis.

For more information on branch offices and services, visit the Secretary of State website (www.Michigan.gov/sos) and sign up for official Secretary of State Twitter feed (www.twitter.com/Michsos) and Facebook updates (www.facebook.com/Michigansos).

Customers also may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customer-service representative at (888) SOS-MICH (767-6424).

For additional information on Macomb County services or to see additional mobile office locations visit the Clerk’s web site at www.macombcountymi.gov/clerksoffice.

This may be the first time county clerk and Secretary of State services were combined in Michigan, but it is not the first time Sabaugh improved birth record service. Sabaugh was the first Michigan county clerk to accept credit card payments for birth records. She provides overnight delivery of documents and offers evening hours - her vital records counter remains open Wednesday evenings until 7 p.m. Secretary of State Ruth Johnson also offers late Wednesday hours at some locations. Johnson recently announced a “new” mobile office while saving an estimated $75,000 by renovating an old state-owned trailer.

Regular Macomb County Clerk/Register of Deeds fees are:

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