last week, I asked Auburn, Iowa mayor Linda Beidler to comment on how she felt about the ethics of basically conducting a city council meeting via email. Beidler has chosen not to comment.
As a result, I now have to find out for you what the Auburn City Councilors are discussing without posting proper and legal notice via the official route. Following is the Freedom of Information Act Request I sent to the Auburn City office on May 25, 2011 at 3:11PM.
To: cityofauburn@iowatelecom.net
From: thesacnews@yahoo.com
Cc:dalib@iowatelecom.net, bunzlaw@mmctsu.com
Subject: FOIA request for "Confidential Comments"
Nancy or Linda,
In notes to the council, and at the May Auburn City Council meeting, there were public records referred to by the mayor as "Confidential Comments" that are clearly part of the deliberative process under Iowa's open meeting laws.
This email is a request under Iowa's Freedom of Information Act to obtain copies of
1. Those specific communications between Mayor Beidler and the members of the Auburn City Council referred to as "Confidential Comments" at the may 16, 2011 city council meeting.
2. Any archived communications between Mayor Beidler and members of the Auburn City Council from the dates April 1, 2011 and may 25, 2011.
Please keep in mind that metadata attached to electronic communications is considered part of the record.
As you are aware under Iowa code, if you reject this request, you are required to do so in writing indicating the reason why you are refusing to fulfill this request.
As it is in the public interest to view the deliberative process of our government, I would like to request that any fee that you may charge to fulfill this request be waived.
If you choose to refuse to fulfill this Freedom of Information Act Request, please save both of us the expense of mailing the rejection. Instead just drop me a free to you email letting me know the rejection is ready, and I will pick up a copy in person.
If, for some reason,the volume of communications regarding this topic are so voluminous, that you will not be able to fulfill this FOIA request within ten days, I would appreciate it if you would drop me a line letting me know how long you think it may take.
Thank you,
Curtis Bloes
TheSacNews.com
A copy of this email is now on record at the Auburn, Iowa city office should you wish to verify that it was sent
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Curtis Bloes - Editor
