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Brandon Center Open To Public

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By LAURA FRAZIER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2008

BRANDON - During the first two weeks it was open, a new county service center on Pauls Drive logged more than 3,800 visitors, who came to pay traffic tickets, register for marriage licenses, file for homestead exemptions or conduct other business.

At the official grand opening of the Brandon Regional Service Center on June 5, County Administrator Pat Bean welcomed staff, politicians and Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce representatives to the $4.2 million building, which opened to the public in May.

"Isn't this a beautiful facility?" Bean said to applause. "It has been worth the wait."

Clerk of the Circuit Court Pat Frank and Property Appraiser Rob Turner moved their Brandon-area satellite offices to the new 18,000-square-foot building in May from facilities closer to Tampa, in the Brandon Crossings shopping center on Adamo Drive.

Turner said the new center is a convenient place for people to get answers to questions about property taxes and appraisals. His office also administers homestead exemptions and determines agriculture classifications and widows', widowers' and disability exemptions.

Frank joked about the scope of services offered there by the circuit court clerk's office.

"We can handle your marriage, we can handle your divorce and we can even handle your death," she said. "We get you across the board."

Frank's office processes civil and criminal cases, including traffic citations; conducts mortgage foreclosure and tax lien sales; assists victims of abuse through a domestic violence program; and provides a self-help office to assist people filing for simplified divorces or small-claims actions.

The clerk's office also collects and disburses court-ordered child support, issues marriage licenses, performs marriage ceremonies and issues jury summonses.

As the grand-opening ceremonies continued in the lobby, a steady stream of customers walked into the clerk's office traffic and courts services division.

Receptionist Robyne Browning said the new digs give customers and workers more breathing room.

"At the old location it would get so crowded that we'd have to ask people to leave the building," Browning said. "And we have this large lobby outside now where people can wait and occupy their kids. But they shouldn't have to wait long at all."

County Commissioners Brian Blair and Al Higginbotham attended the grand opening. Higginbotham said county officials were proud to open the center, which Brandon area residents and business owners had demanded for years.

"We listened to you, and we know how important Brandon is to you," Higginbotham said.

He said constituents also have been vocal about asking the county to find ways to cut government spending and reduce taxes.

"Some hard, difficult choices will need to be made," he said. "But today is a day of rejoicing, and something to be proud of."

BRANDON REGIONAL SERVICE CENTER
WHERE: 311 Pauls Drive, Brandon

WHAT: Satellite offices of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Property Tax Appraiser, public meeting rooms for county business

HOURS: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays

INFORMATION: Clerk of the Circuit Court: (813) 276-8100 or www.hillsclerk.com; property appraiser: (813) 272-6100 or www.hcpafl.org

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523 or lfrazier@tampatrib.com.

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