Information cost could inflate
By TYLER ELLYSON — CNA staff reporter tellyson@crestonnews.com
“Freedom of information means you give them the information, but it doesn’t mean it’s free.”
This is the message Union County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike King stressed to other board members Monday as he pushed the idea of changing the county’s policy on releasing public information.
While no formal motion was made, the board is considering charging anyone requesting public information through the county an hourly rate on top of the 50 cents per copy currently charged.
“I’m all for open meetings, I’m for getting records out to the public ... but when you’re continually bombarded by one or two individuals that give you a laundry list one month then turnaround and want it again the next month because they’ve misplaced it, I think it’s very hard on an office,” King said.
King added that other counties in Iowa have similar hourly rates they charge for employees to gather information requests.
“Is it your duty to be a secretary for an individual?” King asked courthouse employees in attendance, calling some requests for information “redundant” and “repetitive.”
According to King, charging this fee would help the county recoup money lost during certain information requests, specifically, recent requests that have cost the county “thousands of dollars.” These requests for a release of information were reviewed by Brick Gentry law firm because County Attorney Tim Kenyon “doesn’t want to deal with it,” King said.
To date, Union County has paid Brick Gentry $29,231 for legal services pertaining to the legal defense of King surrounding a disorderly conduct charge and other legal services including matters in litigation.
The board will consult with Kenyon and the state attorney general’s office before making a decision on the matter.
