Let the wedding bells ring: county clerk is coming

To say it's been a long time coming, bringing county government services to the eastern half of Ventura County might be an understatement.

Consider that in the last 10 years the populations of the cities of Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Simi Valley have jumped by a combined 40,000 residents- and in that time not one county office has made itself available locally to those unfortunate enough to make their homes on the other side of the Camarillo grade.

Instead, an increasing number of East County taxpayers have been burdened with giving up nearly two hours out of their day to travel a stretch of highway routinely ranked as having some of the worst traffic congestion in the state.

The 101 and the 405 interchange it is not- but who hasn't underestimated a trip to the county seat to pay a ticket, get a marriage license, make a court appearance, etc. And let's not even get into the rising prices at the gas pump.

So word that County Clerk and Recorder plan to open a satellite office inside the Simi Valley courthouse in January '08 is certainly welcome news, especially if it's the first step toward other county offices doing the same.

The clerk and recorder's office issues and maintains birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates. It handles subdivision maps, deeds, mortgages, decrees of court and leases affecting title of real estate property in the county.

The ultimate goal of creating a centrally located annex of county services remains on the county's to-do list, only it's located somewhere behind building a new prison, installing a new computer system for taxes, constructing an ambulatory clinic and retrofitting Ventura County Medical Center to withstand earthquakes.

If county government continues at its decadelong pace, that might mean a long time down the road. Let's hope it doesn't.

In the meantime, rejoice local couples considering making a lifelong commitment. By this time next year, you'll be able to get your $97 marriage license without the added cost of a tank of gas.

Now spend your money wisely.