A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City of Roodhouse in Illinois on October 30, 2024. The request, filed by West Central Reporter, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought detailed information about residential and commercial building permits issued in the city.
The specific records requested under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, included a list of all new residential and commercial building permits issued from January 1, 2023, up until the present date. The fields requested for each permit included the type of permit, date issued, fee paid, requester's name, address where the work is being done and contractor's name.
In addition to this, West Central Reporter also requested a list of all active residential and commercial building permits along with their current status. The same fields as above were requested for these active permits.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, West Central Reporter emphasized that access to public records is essential for fulfilling its professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given its role in disseminating information, West Central Reporter has claimed eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional.
The City of Roodhouse has yet to respond to this FOIA request.
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