Coles Co., IL. (ECWd) –
Coles County Supervisor of Assessments, Denise Shores, has attempted to charge an excessive fee for bulk electronic real estate assessment records, in the amount of $800.00 to Sage Information Services.
This fee is not consistent with fee provisions in the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and has resulted in a FOIA lawsuit filed against Coles County.
Additionally, the designated Coles County FOIA Officer did not reply to a FOIA request.
According to the complaint, Shores indicated that SAGE would have to pay $800 for DEVNET to “change the format of the information.” Plaintiff indicated that DEVNET has provided similar information in various other Illinois counties without a charge of $800 – sometimes it was provided free of charge.
Plaintiff is asking for the requested records, with charges not to exceed the maximum stated in the FOI ACT, and payment of attorney fees, costs, and civil penalties.
Coles County is to answer the complaint by December 12, 2022.
Complaint
