Illinois Attorney General reviewing Travelgate Determination due September 8th

L to R: Rosie Williams and mother Village Clerk Debbie

Williams during a meeting at Village Hall with their

32oz McDonalds drinks... Have you had a break today?

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  The Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office issued a letter late Friday (July 25, 2014) stating the following:

"This letter is to advise you that pursuant to section 9.5(f) of the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/9.5(f) (West 2012), the Public Access Counselor in the Office of the Attorney General is extending the time period within which to determine whether to issue a binding opinion by 30 business days, to September 8, 2014.  We are extending the time for the issuance of a binding opinion to allow this office sufficient time to conduct a thorough review of the legal issues in this matter...."

The letter was also sent to Sherry Jasinski the Village's Freedom of Information Act Clerk and one of the Village's Attorney Sarah Gallagher who once worked in the Attorney General's office.

We filed with the Village a Freedom of Information Act requesting all information about Village Clerk Debbie Williams and her daughter Rosie Williams' trip to Washington D.C. to attend a Summit meeting in July, 2013, including the individuals who helped fund this "personal trip".  The Village refused to provide any information and did not provide any reason for the legal basis of their denial. 

Since the Village did not comply with the law, we filed a Request for Review with the Illinois Attorney General's office in September, 2013.  In March, 2014 the Illinois Attorney General's office issued a "non-binding" determination (CLICK HERE TO VIEW IAG's DETERMINATION LETTER).  We afforded the village a two week period in order to send information and none was provided.

Since the Village refused to provide the information, we filed another FIOA request with the Village in April, 2014.  The Village, through the Village Attorney's office, refused the request but did not provide a legal basis for the denial and claimed one part was "burdensome".  We provided the Village with response to limit the scope to make the request less burdensome and the village failed to respond.  As a result we filed with the Illinois Attorney General's office another Request for Review and asked for a determination since the Village did not comply with the previously issued "non-binding" determination and a subsequent request.

The Attorney General's office sent the Village a letter stating they wanted to know the legal basis as to why they refused to comply with their non-binding determination and provide all of the information to us.  The Village refused to make a formal response to the Illinois Attorney General's Office.