'No Need To Rush' Into Midlothian Secretary Of State Facility

MIDLOTHIAN, IL — Officials with the Illinois Secretary of State office are urging south suburban residents to be patient as the facility at 14434 S. Pulaski Road has reopened after a more than two-month closure due to the spread of the new coronavirus and subsequent state shutdown. The demand for the services at the facility near Midlothian's border with Robbins is likely to be even greater following a recent fire that caused a temporary closure of the Secretary of State building in Chicago Heights and the state's decision not to reopen the express facility in Orland Park.

Dave Druker, a spokesman for the Secretary of State office, said all their state facilities have been extremely busy since they were reopened as part of the current phase of the Restore Illinois plan on Tuesday. He urges those who can take certain steps to get what they need online to do so.

There's three groups of those in need of the facility's services the office has identified as priority groups, he said: People with expired driver's licenses, people with expiring car registration stickers and new drivers.

"There's been an extension on the driver's license and ID card" until Oct. 1, Druker said.

"So there's no reason to rush in and go there now," he said.

Those in need of car registration stickers can get that renewed online and new drivers can also take certain steps online, he added.

"We are asking that everyone be patient, do what you can online and from the convenience of your own home and then come in sometime down the road if you have to."

Druker said the state could "look at" adding staff at the Midlothian facility to help offset the closures in Chicago Heights and Orland Park, but "everyone has a tight budget."

"We are looking to see what can be done," he said. "We are committed to these communities in the south suburbs."

The Midlothian facility isn't the only one south suburbanites can access via a short drive, however. Other nearby facilities have reopened in Bridgeview, Lockport, Joliet and at 99th and King Drive in Chicago.