MEO's Letter
This Clerk of Court's Bi-monthly message to staff, who daily provide T(imely) A(ccurate) C(ourteous) service to all customers.
Families of All Sorts March is a particularly important month for the O'Shaughnessy family and many other Irish families. On St. Patrick's Day, we march in the annual parade celebrating our shared heritage. It is a particularly special time for others to also join this festive day. Police and Firefighters, high school bands, clubs and organizations, and elected officials also march. Along the parade route are hundreds of onlookers who cheer and wave at us. Collectively our Columbus community celebrates the gaiety and pride in the day's celebration. AOH with banner Mayor is Irish MEO close up O'Shaughnessy clan Police with flags Firefighters Our city's heritage has been built by the collaborative work of many families and the pride they have living and working here. Not unlike the city, this office (our office) is successful in large part to the collective works of each Deputy Clerk. Individually, you bring a unique set of skills and strengths to make our agency a dynamic, well functioning and respected office. We have met a few challenges in the past few years. But because of your dedication to and pride in your roles as Deputy Clerks, our office is the best Clerk of Courts' in the state of Ohio. Each of you can be proud of your work family.
Legal Divisions
Read here for activities of the Criminal, Civil, Records, Juvenile, Domestic and Appeals divisions of the Franklin County Clerk of Courts' agency. (For staff changes and promotions, Deputy Clerks can refer to their internal newsletter.)
April Hughes' initial report
We may have started off slow on Wednesday, March 14th with only 2 filings, but on Thursday we took in our first new case filing and ended up with 10 filings for the day. It was very exciting for all of us to process a new case which involved an inability affidavit that needed a judge's approval. We did have several filings that needed a judge or magistrate signature on Thursday which was nice because the court was getting experience like the clerk on using the system. Today (Friday March 16), we had 26 filings submitted through eFlex that consist of attorney and court filings which was a big increase of filings from Thursday. For the most part things are working pretty well there have been a few issues, but we don't have any filings on hold which is great. We will see what next week brings.
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Domestic eFiling - Debra |
Domestic eFiling - Debra and Craig |
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Domestic eFiling - Jennifer and Laura |
Domestic eFiling - Alicia |
Imaging average 14,500 pages daily
Beginning with its launch in October 5, 2011, eFiling (in Civil/General Division) is the way court documents are presented to the Clerk of Courts. Since that date, all Civil case types eventually were phased in under the court's administrative mandate for eFiling. This process is the way business is done in the Clerk's office - on the Civil side. Paper filings in Criminal cases will remain the practiced process until later in 2013.
Asked for an accounting of total images in General Division for the first two months of 2012, IT reported a total of 459,542 pages of Civil filings were imaged; 117,751 pages of Criminal filings were imaged.
The total for these two sections in General Division is 577,293! That's an average of nearly 14, 500 images per business day that were processed in either paper or electronically. What an extraordinary number of numbers.
Auto Title
Read here for activities of one or any of the four Auto Title offices located through Franklin County. (For staff changes and promotions, Deputy Clerks can refer to their internal newsletter.)
What a busy month in Auto Title! Everyone receives a big "Thank you" for pulling together and delivering timely, accurate and courteous service to the citizens of Franklin County and beyond! Below is February and Year to Date (YTD) reports for total titles processed sorted by branch. Business is up 16% for the month of February and up 14% year to date over last year. AMAZING job everyone. Keep up the great work!
Branch Activity - February |
2011 |
2012 |
% change |
South |
15136 |
17207 |
14% |
North |
7291 |
8590 |
18% |
East |
8041 |
8998 |
12% |
West |
7198 |
9021 |
25% |
Branch Activity -YTD |
|||
South |
30390 |
33315 |
10% |
North |
13942 |
16461 |
18% |
East |
14804 |
16054 |
8% |
West |
14013 |
17271 |
23% |
Offices Combined YTD |
73149 |
83101 |
14% |
BAH - HUMBUGS at Title East?
Auto Title East is cleaning house. Literally, as title co-workers are planning their big move next month (to new offices/new site located at 1583 Alum Creek Dr.) staff is sorting through and sorting out Christmas decorations. Cleaning out boxes of accumulated holiday decorations tops their "We're Moving" list.
In truth, our colleagues at Title East are not BAH humbugs after all. Items that were not returned to staff will be donated to a local charity.
(And if some of you think the Alum Creek location sounds familiar, it should sound. It is where BMV currently houses a Registrar's office and the State Highway Patrol's Reinstatement Center.)
NEW Hires and Welcomes
Happy to have Mark Jenkins (AT West), Holly J. Grimes-Rader (AT South) and Kenyatta Edmonson (AT South) join the Auto Title team. These individuals will serve in the capacity of Customer Service Clerk II at their respective offices. These new employees started their training at south office on March 5 before moving on to their permanent assignments. If you see Mark, Holly and/or Kenyatta please take a moment to introduce yourself and welcome them to the team.
Bea Miller transferred to the Shipley Service Center as a Customer Service Clerk II on March 5. Bea served the Clerk's office well as branch manager of Auto Title East, but asked for this new assignment. No doubt she will perform well in her role at Shipley. Melissa Moose agreed to serve in the capacity of Interim Branch Manager for the east office until further notice.
Auto Title South welcomed back Jeff Coleman and Jim Feeney to their respective roles as Auto Title Dealer Liaison and Auto Title Customer Service. Your co-workers were thrilled that you participated in the official first of the season Cook Out. Food has that attractive quality for many of us...did someone mention there's cake??
TAC in ACTion
Timely---Accurate-Courteous service in ACTion! Comments submitted to this office either by a co-worker about a co-worker or by any one of the Clerk of Courts' colleagues, customers or general public also recognizing the extraordinary work by our extraordinary staff.
Nate Gordon (Local attorney) called to say how extremely helpful Joyce (B) and Elizabeth were in assisting him navigate the eFiling. (Editor's comment: This was a first filing for Nate in the new process.) He was grateful that you expeditiously approved his registration; and, to Elizabeth for process related questions he had of her as he lumbered into eFlex. Nate said he didn't want to call (you two) again because he feared you might have thought he needed more/additional assistance. So he reported his THANKS THANKS for the great service and help. It was gratefully appreciated.
Joyce B. (sent this email): "Just had a phone call saying what a great help Erin Morris was while answering the phones. The customer had been frustrated after talking with other offices and said "Erin explained everything to me and was a tremendous help". "
Gary D. (attorney/email)" I would like to compliment the young lady who helped me. She was very good in dealing with an attorney who is not computer literate. I would also compliment Ms. O'Shaughnessy for making such a good hire. When I arraigned my client this morning I received the great help. I am sure they remember me because together we figured this out." (Editor's comment: "the young lady" is Erin Morris of General Division.)
RiChawn M. (email) " I want to send a special thanks to Joyce in the next newsletter for going above and beyond with helping Mr. Phillip on 02/29/2012. Just a breath of fresh air!!!"
Amy A. (email) Dear Maryellen - I am an old-as-the-hills paralegal & have been working with the Clerk's civil division since 1979 -- yes, an antiquity. I just wanted to let you know that through all of these years, your office is better run and more accessible, and the people working there are so much more friendly and helpful, than at any time in the past 30+ years. Waiting in line to file things in the Civil Clerk's office on the 3rd floor in the late 1980s and 1990s was soooo frustrating, demoralizing and downright nasty while the clerks pulled a power trip on us & wouldn't let us cross their stupid little line until they finished talking about what they were going to cook for dinner (honest, one of many conversations I overheard). Flash forward 20 years & everyone is friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and genuinely interested in solving our problems & satisfying our needs. Thank you so much for your leadership & getting things done!!! I like your kind of constant change!
Cynthia C. (Former Washington state agency director) wrote:
Wanted to thank you for making my transistion to Ohio a smooth one. I moved back to Ohio recently after living in Washington state and needed to transfer my car registration here. Your office was very helpful and a real live person called as soon as they received the car title from my bank. Thank you for your professional, prompt a wonderful service!
Sorry these were not posted in last issue - but they are here now. All Auto Title North team!
Lawrence comment card: Carla was wonderful, kind and patient AND it was late in the day before the holidays.
Cols. MotorCar comment card: Crystal went above and beyond her job title. Thank you so much.
Belinda J. M. comment card: Jody was kind, compassionate and efficient. I lost my mom in Dec. and my brother in Feb. She made this difficult time easier.
Yashica B. comment card: A quick note to make sure Barry is recognized for his outstanding customer service. He was very professional, polite, pleasant and efficient. Kudos to Mr. Wenrich. (she noted that she didn't get the comment card to write, so she sent in a special letter.)
And one last oops - this was missed but not forgotten:
Blaise Baker (attorney at law) sent in the following letter: "...commend the work of Erin Morris. I had a situation requiring prompt action on Ms. Morris' part in order to get a client out of jail. She knew exactly how to handle it... Erin is consistently professional and courteous on every occasion I have had business with her at your office. This is a great employee and you should be made aware of her work."