I wrote a post back in March about an official for Billings Township, Michigan trying to file a FOIA on a private grassroots organization. It seemed a little hard to believe so I suggested taking it with a grain of salt. Now, someone from the grassroots organization (Concerned Citizens of Billings Township) has found that blog post and confirmed that the story is accurate.
“We did get a FOIA from an ex official/current assignee of the Township. She is running for Township Clerk again.”
Concerned Citizens of Billings Township.
No wonder they’re concerned.
4 responses so far ↓
classicalliberal // June 19, 2008 at 12:47 pm |
I find this both hilarious and sad. On the one hand the official displays not only ignorance of the FOA, but a more fundamental ignorance of the difference between ‘public’ and ‘private’. Sad though, these are the “leaders” of this country.
The Geezer // June 24, 2008 at 9:34 am |
Actually, in Benton County, WA, you can make a PDR request of a private agency.
Recent court case confirmed that when the County contracted with the SPCA for shelter services for animals, they moved a legit function of gub’mint to the private sector, and now that private firm is subject to the Public Records Act.
The Geez
Patricia G. Gnotek // July 2, 2008 at 8:25 pm |
Geez,
Thanks for the warning. The BTB offered the Township Hall to the CCC for our meetings. We declined. THAT would have been accepting ‘public supplies/funding’.
pgg
pgg // July 15, 2008 at 1:42 pm |
July 15, 2008
More from Billings Township……..
I am Editor of THE EAGLE EYE newsletter of the Concerned Citizens Committee of Billings Township, Gladwin Co, Michigan. Please visit http://www.cccbillings.com
The Billings Township Board has denied the existence of Phase III of the sewer project at several board meetings. Since the Fall of 2007, we have sent several Michigan FOIA requests for info on Phase III of the sewer project which the Township failed to reply to. Finally on May 11, 2008, I sent them a Federal FOIA request for the info since the sewer is Federally Funded. What the heck?
The Township partially replied 2 months later (JULY 9) via email. In their reply, Billings Township denied the existence of Phase III (TWICE).
Now it gets interesting: We sent the exact same FOIA request to the USDA Rural Development. RD replied to our FOIA with a map of Phase III and other info on Phase III. In addition, RD recognized our FOIA request as being made by ‘a representative of the news media’ -THE EAGLE EYE and did not charge fees. At the board meeting last night, the Township Board denied THE EAGLE EYE news media status under Federal or State Law.
By the way, Michigan FOIA Law needs to change to recognize news media changes in the 21st Century. I have written Tim Moore, my state representative, to introduce legislation to amend the Michigan FOIA to parallel the Federal FOIA.
Also, what do we do about a Township Board that brazenly lied ‘in writing’ about the existence of Phase III?
Respectfully,
Patricia G. Gnotek
Secretary / Concerned Citizens Committee
of Billings Township
Editor: THE EAGLE EYE