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Crystal K. Kinzel Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller 3315 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 102 Naples, Florida 34112-5324 www.CollierClerk.com

Letter to the Community… Dear Citizens, As we emerge from the pandemic, optimism abounds here at the Government Center. We are moving forward to provide you, our residents, with the highest-level of customer service possible - the best in Florida, maybe even the world!

We are nearing completion of several high-priority customer service improvement projects including improvements to the layout and navigability of our website, expansion of online accessibility to records and forms, and improvements to the juror summonsing process. Also, to better serve our vast and growing county, we are moving forward with the addition of a new neighborhood satellite office at Heritage Bay and the reopening of our office on Marco Island, which will bring our total in the county to eight.

These customer service improvement projects are a high priority. At some point, everyone in Collier County may need Clerk services. Getting married? You’ll come to us to obtain your marriage license – we’ll even perform the ceremony. Traveling abroad? We are the only agency in the county where you can submit your application for a passport. Speeding ticket? We’ll handle the payment of your fine. Buying or selling a house? We’ll record your deed, mortgage, release of lien, and other land records.

Our Operation Green Light event held last month was a tremendous success! 42 eager

customers took advantage of the opportunity to pay their outstanding traffic court

obligations without paying the extra collection fees, and advanced to the next step

toward driver license reinstatement. Many were lined-up at the front door an hour

before we opened; one of our happiest participants was a very proud mother who didn’t

want to miss the event, even though she risked being late for her daughter’s wedding

ceremony! Drive safely, ladies and gentlemen!

I want to take a minute to thank the planners and participants of the Grey Oaks Lifelong Learning Program for giving me the recent opportunity to be a guest presenter on the topic, “How Collier County is Governed.” I also want to thank all the residents who attended my recent public seminar held at the South Regional Branch Library. I enjoy giving presentations to local groups and organizations so remember, if you would like to schedule a presentation for your homeowner’s association or group, whether in person or via Zoom, please call my office at 252-6879 and speak to Mike Sheffield, our Outreach Director.

It’s springtime, and there are so many reasons to be thankful and optimistic. We live in beautiful Collier County with fresh air, warm weather, and a strong economy. Enjoy the beautiful April weather!

Sincerely,

Collier Clerk Newsletter

April 2021

Office Locations

Main Office Courthouse

3315 Tamiami Trail E. Naples, FL 34112

Satellite Offices

Airport Motor Vehicle 725 Airport Road South

Naples, FL 34104

Eagle Creek 6654 Collier Boulevard

Naples FL 34114

Everglades City Hall 102 Copeland Ave. N.

Everglades City, FL 34139

Golden Gate Gov. Center 4715 Golden Gate Parkway

Naples, FL 34116

Immokalee 106 South First Street Immokalee, FL 34142

North Collier Gov. Ctr.

2335 Orange Blossom Drive Naples, FL 34109

Customer Service 239-252-2646

www.CollierClerk.com

www.Facebook.com/CollierClerk

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Call the Clerk’s Hotline to Report Fraud, Theft - (844) 253-7544

As Collier County’s independently elected auditor and custodian of county funds, the Clerk of the

Circuit Court & Comptroller is responsible for auditing the expenditures of taxpayer dollars.

To assist in this constitutionally established responsibility, a confidential hotline is in place that serves

as an effective mechanism for preventing and detecting fraud, theft, or abuse of county dollars and

resources carried out by any person, business or organization that has a relationship with Collier

County Government/Board of County Commissioners or the Collier County Clerk of Court, including:

• Contractors

• Subcontractors

• Vendors

• Employees and volunteers

• Other entities, agencies, organizations, or officials

Report suspected fraud or wrongdoing, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 239-252-8412 or the

confidential hotline at 844-ClerkIG (844-253-7544). English or Spanish.

Or, submit our online Complaint Form found by clicking on the “Reporting Fraud” button located on

the homepage of www.CollierClerk.com.

In general terms, "probate" refers to the court-supervised process for identifying and gathering the assets of a deceased person (decedent), paying the decedent’s debts, and distributing the decedent’s assets to his or her beneficiaries (Chapters 731-735, Florida Statutes). However, there are several types of probate proceedings which are all filed with the Clerk’s office.

The Clerk’s Probate Services staff administers court filings related to wills and estates of a deceased person, as well as petitions for involuntary mental health assessment/stabilization (Baker Act, Chapter 394, Florida Statutes), petitions for involuntary substance abuse assessment/treatment (Marchman Act, Chapter 397 Florida Statutes), guardianship (Chapter 744 Florida Statutes), Adult Protective Services (Chapter 415 Florida Statutes), Developmental Disabilities (Chapter 393 Florida Statutes), and Risk Protection Orders (Chapter 790, Florida Statutes). Deputy court clerks attend all hearings and produce a written record of the outcome of each hearing.

To learn more about the Clerk’s probate services, visit www.CollierClerk.com.

For a listing of local probate attorneys, visit www.colliercountybar.org.

Did you know…

Clerk’s Office Provides Probate Services

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Attention Collier Residents…

Duty Calls!

Watch your Mailbox for a

Jury Summons

Our court system is back in business! After a suspension of jury trials that lasted for several months during the pandemic, in February the Chief Judge authorized the resumption of criminal and civil jury trials in Collier County.

If you receive a notice for jury service, please don’t consider it an inconvenience or burden. Be proud! Our legal system would not function without you and we are grateful for your service.

At this time, courts in Collier County are holding 1 – 2 trials a week and already 516 potential jurors have reported for jury duty. The number of jury trials will increase significantly as the courts move through the backlog of cases.

SAVE TIME! Go to www.CollierClerk.com and click on to complete and print

the jury questionnaire to hand to the juror clerk on reporting day.

Important Reminder from the Sheriff and Clerk…

Beware of Jury Duty Scam

The Sheriff’s Office and the Office of Clerk of the Circuit Court are reminding residents not to fall victim to the jury duty scam.

The scam typically involves a telephone call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer or court official. The caller states that a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you have failed to show for jury duty. The only way to avoid arrest and incarceration is to immediately pay a fine by credit card, prepaid debit cards/gift cards, or money transfer. If you protest that you never received a jury summons, the scammer asks for your Social Security number, claiming to need it to cancel the arrest warrant. However, the personal information that you divulge may be used to commit additional fraud. Remember: Neither law enforcement nor court clerks will contact you by telephone or email about missed jury duty or to collect personal information. To protect yourself do not reply to the email or voicemail. Unless you have initiated contact, never give out your personal or financial information to anyone. This scam can take other forms, including impersonating the IRS, your bank, utilities, and many other legitimate organizations. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Collier County Clerk’s Office encourage residents to report this type of activity immediately. For assistance with any suspicious encounter involving a request for money or personal information, contact the Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s “Call Before You Pay” hotline – (239) 252-CALL (2255). The hotline is staffed Monday through Friday by a deputy in the Financial Crimes Bureau.

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The Clerk is the Auditor…

But Who Audits the Auditor?

Within the Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes is a “checks and balances” system that entrusts the duties of auditor, accountant, and custodian of county funds to the state’s independently elected Clerks and Comptrollers. This structure has served citizens and taxpayers well for many years and is fundamental to ensuring prudent, accurate and lawful spending of taxpayer dollars.

Just how beneficial is the “checks and balances” system to Collier County taxpayers? Huge! For example, audits of $100 million in Hurricane Irma expenses resulted in the correction of almost a million dollars’ worth of irregularities prior to payment, and in 2019, the pre-payment review of vendor invoices uncovered errors that saved county taxpayers over $1 million in 2020.

We are often asked, if the Clerk is the auditor, who audits the auditor?

Because of multiple and varied fiscal responsibilities, the Clerk may be one of the most audited agencies within any local, state, or federal government organization. The Clerk is regularly audited by a multitude of agencies to ensure systems are in place and generally accepted accounting principles are being applied.

A partial list of organizations that regularly audit the Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller include:

• Annual audit by an independent external audit firm, currently CliftonLarsonAllen;

• Florida Clerk of Courts Operations Corporation;

• Auditor General of the State of Florida;

• Office of the State Courts Administrator;

• Department of Revenue of the State of Florida;

• Department of Children and Families;

• Audits of grant funds administered by the county for various state and federal agencies;

• Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

To learn more about the auditing role and responsibilities of the Clerk and Comptroller, visit

www.Collierclerk.com and click on the Internal Audit tab.

Congratulations Mark Isackson! New County Manager to take the Helm in May

On March 23, 2021, the Collier County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Mark Isackson as the next county manager. Mr. Isackson will succeed retiring County Manager Leo Ochs; County Manager Ochs is retiring in May after thirty-five years of service with Collier County Government - the last eleven of those years as County Manager.

Having served as the Director of the County’s Office of Management & Budget for several years, Mr. Isackson is well known and respected within the halls of county government.

Our office extends our congratulations and support to the incoming county manager, and we look forward to working with him to improve taxpayer services.

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“Emerging Leader” at the Clerk’s Office

Selected for Naples Chamber

Leadership Program - Class of 2021

The Leadership Collier Foundation of the Greater Naples

Chamber has announced the names of the participants

of the Class of 2021 - Associate Leadership Collier

program; included in the class is Kyle Briant, Systems

Manager with the Office of the Collier County Clerk of

Court and Comptroller.

The Associate Leadership Collier program is specifically

designed for emerging leaders and professionals in Collier County, ages 21-40.

Participants learn about local government, charitable organizations, arts, law

enforcement, tourism, education, health care, and other resources so that graduates

can become involved and be an effective contributor in the community.

As the systems manager in the Clerk’s Information Technology Department, Kyle

fulfills crucial responsibilities that involve the implementation, protection, and

security of the agency’s computer information systems, networks, and servers.

Prior to joining the Office of the Collier Clerk in 2014, Kyle held positions with the

Florida Bar Association and the Florida Association of Court Clerks (FCCC). During his

employment with the FCCC, he was involved in many high-profile statewide court

system projects including the Child Support System, Electronic Filing System (E-

Filing), and Electronic Service of Court Documents System.

Born and raised in the Naples area, Kyle built a home in eastern Collier County

where he resides with wife, Liz, and two-year-old daughter, Caroline. When not

emersed in a technology project, he enjoys spending time with his family and

friends, outdoors activities, and Florida State Seminoles Football.

Congratulations, Kyle!

Kyle Briant, Systems Manager Collier Clerk’s Office

April is National

Distracted Driving Awareness Month!

Put down the phone and pay attention!

Texting while driving is a

primary offense in Florida.

Stay safe and avoid a ticket!

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Have you Subscribed to the Risk Alert Notification Program?

A free public service offered by the Collier County Clerk’s Office

to help property owners monitor their records for fraudulent activity.

Sign-up through the Clerk’s website www.CollierClerk.com

An Unusual County Commission Meeting - February 20,1962

“Commissioners were unusually silent…”

59-years ago, on February 20, 1962, NASA’s Mercury Spacecraft Friendship 7, piloted

by astronaut Lt. Colonel John Glenn, launched from Cape Canaveral. Lt Col. Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth.

Collier County Commissioners wanted to view the

historic launch; however, there was no television at the courthouse in Everglades City where they were

holding their meeting. So they recessed the meeting and walked with news reporters and others to the nearby home of Clerk of Court Margaret Scott to view

the telecast on her television. County Engineer Harmon Turner’s profound comment spoken as the

meeting later reconvened is timeless, “After what we’ve seen all this seems mighty little.” (Mr. Turner was named Collier’s first county manager in 1970.)

Everglades City had been the location of the seat of county

government since the county’s incorporation in 1923.

The county seat was relocated to its current location

in east Naples in September 1962, seven months after Glenn’s historic launch into orbit. The old county

courthouse became the City Hall of Everglades City, where services of the Collier Clerk’s office remain available to this day.

“After what we’ve seen all

this seems mighty little.”

-County Engineer Harmon Turner

Fort Myers News Press, 02/21/62

For more information about newsletter

content or about the Clerk’s operations:

Mike Sheffield, Director Community Relations & Outreach

Mike.Sheffield@CollierClerk.com (239) 252-6879