A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Olney City Council regarding detailed information about its council members on October 15, 2024. The request was made by us at East Central Reporter, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our request, we sought records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, specifically asking for a list of all council members with specific fields. These fields include the name of each council member, their title, the year they were appointed, their term length (either two or four years), and the date when their term expires.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
We await a response from the Olney City Council regarding this request.
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