The Putnam County Clerk’s Office could expand services at it a Baxter satellite location if more residents begin taking advantage of the branch location.
Putnam County Clerk Kerry Ledbetter said the office has launched a social media campaign to raise awareness of the location, which offers vehicle registrations, titles, renewals and boat transactions without requiring residents to travel to Cookeville.
“We go to Monterey every day and we’re up there from 1 to 3:45 every day.” Ledbetter said, “And, you know, if Baxter started doing, larger volumes, we may be able to expand daily service down there.”
Ledbetter said the Baxter branch currently operates Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3-4pm.
“We thought just revamping, you know, the knowledge and getting the word out that we do have that office available in Baxter, especially for people in the lower end of the county that, you know, may not want to drive all the way into Cookeville, that that is an option available for them,” Ledbetter said.
Ledbetter said former County Clerk Ruth Ann Woolbright originally established the satellite locations to better serve residents outside Cookeville. Public awareness of the Baxter branch gradually faded over the years, prompting the renewed promotional effort.
Ledbetter said the Baxter office provides nearly all the services available at the main clerk’s office, with the exception of marriage licenses and notary services. The branch operates from a dedicated space inside Baxter City Hall at 200 Main Street.
Ledbetter said the goal is to make county services more accessible to residents throughout Putnam County, particularly those who may not realize they have an alternative to traveling into Cookeville.