AG publishes Binding Opinion 17-009 against Carlinville for FOIA violations –

CARLINVILLE, IL. (ECWd) –

Carla Brockmeier

Today, the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Bureau issued a Binding Opinion # 17-009 (2017 PAC 47126) stating that the City of Carlinville [under the direction of Mayor Deanna Demuzio] and its Freedom of Information Act Officer, Carla Brockmeier, violated the FOIA by not responding to my March 18, 2017 request for public records (previous articles on this request for records HERE).

This is the first of what we believe will be a long string of defeats facing the City of Carlinville, its FOIA Officer Carla Brockmeier, and its Attorney, Daniel Schuering for a long list of FOIA violations. Unfortunately, the residents and taxpayers of Carlinville are paying out of their pockets for the City’s flagrant, willful, and intentional refusal to comply with the law.

This request for public records was one of the FOIAs the City Council voted and ordered Schuering to provide, which he never provided.

Records requested in this FOIA were cell and smart phone statements, credit/debit/etc card statements, and FOIA and OMA training certificates, among other things.

The AG determined Carlinville violated Section 3(d) of the FOIA by failing to respond to the request for public records as required by the Act. The AG has also directed the city to comply with this Binding Opinion and properly respond to the request.

17-009

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