MD: Macomb County CPL approvals back on track with personal visits

​By Jameson Cook

Some 270 Macomb County residents seeking a first-time Certified Pistol License were put on hold for three months due to COVID-19. But starting next week they will be able to achieve their goal.

County Clerk Fred Miller will reopen the Clerk’s Office vital records offices to the public for first-time applicants who were not able to submit their information while county buildings were closed during the state Stay at Home executive order.

“It’s a big step forward, and we’re excited to do it,” Miller said.

Starting Monday, applicants can go to the Talmer Building at 120 N. Main Street in Mount Clemens under strict conditions to ensure protection against the coronavirus. They then go for fingerprinting at the Sheriff’s Office at Groesbeck Highway and Elizabeth Road.

The applicants can schedule an appointment through the clerk’s web site, macombgov.org/clerkrod. Click on “QUICKSERVE.”

Ninety people had set up appointments for next week by last Thursday afternoon, Miller said.

First-time applicants are required to appear in person because they must sign a document in the presence of a county clerk employee, as well as subsequently get fingerprinted. They must provide certification of training.

Michigan State Police has 35 days to approve the license.

Meanwhile, regarding other services, Miller has enhanced the “Virtual Clerk’s Office” with the quick-serve portal that helps guide users through the myriad of Clerk’s Office web services.

“We realize that finding a service quickly on any government web site can be a daunting task, considering the pages and pages of information, so we developed the ‘Quick Serve,’ where any resident can pinpoint what he or she needs in a matter of seconds," Miller said.

The office shut down in early March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Most of the clerk’s staff has been working remotely away from the Mount Clemens offices in completing over 7,000 service requests during regular office hours.

“I am so proud of our dedicated staff, who continue to answer every request, even requests for information about services outside the department, in an average of 15 minutes,” he said.

The “Quick Serve” system was launched just before the three-day Memorial Day holiday weekend, and tracking software has shown that hundreds of users received virtual service, based on a feedback button, he said.

“Quick Serve” was developed and implemented without any additional cost to County residents, Miller said.

In addition, the Elections Division conducted the May election and accepted most candidates’ filings for the August primary electronically or through the mail, with the ability to accept candidates’ filing fees on the Clerk’s Office web site.

Link to article:
​https://www.macombdaily.com/news/local/macomb-county-cpl-approvals-back-on-track-with-personal-visits/article_78bddcea-a6ab-11ea-9da1-5b14463350a7.html