Collier residents push for code enforcement complaints to be anonymous

Rita Citovaca is dealing with a problem with one of her neighbors near Lakewood Blvd. in Naples.

“Basically sometimes I have problems with my neighbor,” Citovaca said. “They’re smoking weed and especially when I have little baby, you know it’s not the right thing I want next to my apartment.”

But she is worried if she reports the problem to Collier County, her neighbor will find out.

“Were scared that we are not protected from consequences,” Citovaca said.

Back in 2013, Collier County commissioners approved requiring residents to provide both their name and phone numbers for public record when making a formal complaint. The only way a person could remain anonymous is if the problem was an urgent health, safety or welfare concern.

District 4 Commissioner Penny Taylor said this topic all comes down to having trust for their department to use discretion on the person’s behalf.

“They can trust and that’s the big T,” Taylor said. “Trust the offices of the commissioners to keep their name out of the public venue and it seems to have worked.”

Now the commissioner board is reviewing the policy to see if any changes need to be made. But others have said this is an issue that should have been left in the hands of the voters to decide this previous election cycle and not for the commission.

“It should be like you know, during the election where you can vote on something like that,” William Cooley said, a concerned neighbor.

But Commissioner Taylor said even though every complaint will be different, they will work to resolve the problem without having any repercussions for either side.