HEARTLAND—Intelligent folks state-wide know that their public officials are there to SERVE the public, not the other way around.
And part of that service is to provide answers when questions are asked of them.
The best way to get answers to the public’s questions is for the public body or public official to just give them when asked…but sometimes, public bodies and public officials are reluctant to do so. Which is why most states have Freedom of Information Act laws, such as this one in Illinois.
However, some officials don’t understand this law….sad to say.
And here, from our friend John Kraft of the Edgar County Watchdogs up in the Heartland area, is an example of someone who obviously doesn’t understand what FOIA is all about.
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ARCOLA, IL (ECWd) - After review a recent FOIA request from Arcola Township, one very telling item stuck out like a sore thumb.
That “sore thumb” is a written statement by Mark T. Petty, Attorney for Arcola Township, in which he said “…transparent is a ridiculous word…” when he was talking about the Freedom Of Information Act and public records (see photo below).
If that is truly what you believe, Mr. FOIA Attorney for Arcola Township, please resign and let someone else do that job.
Another item for this article is that I received a copy of a credit card statement that showed charges made in several other states for small amounts. This “could be” attributed to candy, food, cigarettes, lottery ticket, OR gas for a four-state Harley Davidson trip – which is why I requested a copy of the actual receipts instead of a copy of the credit card statement.
Whatever the card-holder purchased was purchased with an Arcola Township Credit Card and the taxpayers of Arcola Township paid for it. You can view the map to see where these credit card charges were made.
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Below are the photos of the FOIA response, the map of the purchases, and a statement page from the credit card bill:
Don’t think this isn’t going on where you live. When people in positions of authority begin to abuse their power, this is one of the first places they go—credit card use, paid for by the taxpayers—and it only increases from there.
There’ll be more in upcoming articles, particularly in the print version; be sure your e-Edition membership is active, and check out our vendors to see where you can pick up the print version on stands!