Thanks To Media And Manatee County Citizens

September 9, 2009
 
To the great media serving Manatee County:
 
Thanks for your help and support during the fee increase deadline rush!  Your proactive warning of the impending tsunami of customers in the Tax Collector offices was invaluable.  We could not have accomplished the tremendous volume of mail in renewals (56% above last August) and internet transactions (11,000+) without your help.
 
I also want to thank the great majority of our customers who waited patiently for hours while the State’s DMV server was functional seemingly “at will” over the final weekend and business days.   So many tried in vain to renew online, as we had requested them to do.  When they could not renew over the weekend because of the DMV server being shut down, they reluctantly became part of the hoard in our offices.  Our hope is that they remember to renew online next time, when there isn’t a rush on the DMV system.
 
Until faced with a crisis, you really don’t know what your staff is made of;  this confirmed what I felt I knew.  My staff is comprised of dedicated, respectful and efficient professionals who make me honored and proud to serve with them.  The untold stories are many, but a few examples are employees who voluntarily postponed their vacations until September 1st so they could help get the job done.  Most worked through their lunch breaks or took only a few short minutes to grab a quick bite to eat and then resumed their duties.  My senior management team worked the lobbies, sent their employees to branches to process renewals, and basically held down the fort.  Our heroes are the staff who processed thousands and thousands and thousands of transactions those final days – and then showed up the next day, not a single one late or out sick, ready “to perform their duties with integrity and respect, focusing on innovation and serving with excellence,” which is our mission.
 
As we prepare for the US government to roll out the Real ID Act in January, we will once again be calling on you to help get out the message.  For a heads up, access www.gathergoget.com to become informed on what this means to Floridians.
 
Thanks again, and God bless you.
 
 
 
Ken Burton Jr.
Manatee County Tax Collector
 
KBJ:jbh