ATTORNEY GENERAL REVIEWING ANOTHER FOIA DENIAL

by Joseph Wiszowaty

SAUK VILLAGE |  Another Freedom of Information Act request to Sauk Village has been referred to the office of Illinios Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office.

A request for information pertaining to the financial accounts for the village's Public Relations Committee was made in August of this year by this reporter.  Village Trustee Rosie Williams has chaired the Public Relations Committee for a number of years.  In the request there were several specific items that were requested that the village failed to provide.  Because the Village failed to provide the specific parts of the request the failure is considered a "denial" under 5 ILCS 140/ 1 et seq.  As a result of the village's "denial" of the request an appeal was made to the Illinois Attorney General in order to obtain the information originally requested.

The Attorney General can fine the village for failing to compy with the Act and can issue an order to compel the Village to respond to the FOIA request.  The Attorney General can also go to court to enforce its order as provided under the Act.

This is the second such appeal made in less than 30 days to the Illinois Attorney General for denial of information made under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Attorney General's office issued a correspondence to the Village of Sauk Village today (October 7, 2013 in which they state "We have determined that further inquiry into this matter is necesary to confirm that the Village has complied with its obligation under FOIA...."

The Village now has 7 days in order to respond to the Attorney General and to provide all necessary documentation requested.  The Attorney General will make a determination as to the Village's compliance with the Act.

logo by- Joseph Wiszowaty