Local News

New Drive Thru a Hit with Users

(La Porte, IN) - The doors at La Porte City Hall have been closed since early in the pandemic but transactions are occurring face to face again thanks to a virtual drive thru.   

 

The new social distancing option is already proving to be a major time saver especially when signatures are required on documents.  Instead of waiting days for the U.S Post Office to deliver and return signed paperwork, exchanges can be completed in a vacuum during a single drive up visit.  “There’s definitely an advantage. We’re lucky to have it,” said Clerk-Treasurer Courtney Parthun.

           

Gina Allen got the water turned on at her new residence by doing things like signing papers delivered back and forth in a tube.  The container travels inside a vacuum line activated by a simple push of a button.  Allen said she liked the service but wishes life was back to normal again.  “I’d rather go inside but that’s what it’s coming to,” she said.

           

City Hall has remained fully staffed with business conducted strictly by mail, electronically, on the phone or in drop boxes until the drive-thru opened November 4.  City employees and customers in the drive thru see and talk to each other on a monitor and speaker.

 

Dave Parsell pulled up to pay a water bill.  The retiree was glad he didn’t have to get out his car to use a drop box or struggle up the many steps to the billing office inside City Hall.  "I really like it.  It’s very convenient,” Parsell said.

 

Parthun said the drive thru, costing about $70,000, was paid for entirely with federal COVID-19 relief funds.  “it’s a nice feature to have here for residents,” she said.

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