West Central Reporter

A citizens oversight group is venting its frustration over what it describes as law-breaking inaction by the City of Carlinville.

In the most-recent alleged violation, the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW) charge that the city failed to respond to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request regarding the city treasurer, whom the ECW says might have left an official comment on its website during her off hours and using her home internet provider. 

The group has issued several previous FOIA requests with the city stemming from suspicions related to Mayor Deanna Demuzio, whom the group speculates was hiding credit card statements from public records. 

According to the law, a government body has five business days to respond to FOIA requests. The ECW says it is still waiting, weeks later, for a response.

City Treasurer Jody Reichmann commented on an article about Demuzio on the ECW's Illinois Leaks website. The ECW says the time stamp on the posting suggests it was placed after work hours.

The ECW argues that even though it has filed another complaint with the Illinois attorney general’s public access counselor, it will not be surprised if the city continues to refuse to comply.