Public Information Request

The City of Petersburg supports the policy of providing access to public records maintained by the City.

The City of Petersburg provides the following ways for you to submit your public information request.

HOW YOU CAN REQUEST PUBLIC RECORDS:

1. Make your request in writing. The City cannot require you to use a specific form for your request but below is a form to make sure all the information is provided when requesting public records.

2. Be as specific as possible.

3. Provide the following information in your request:

•  Name, address, phone number and email address

•  Description of records, be specific as possible

•  Provide if the request is for copies or inspection of records

4. The FOIA allows you to inspect or recieve copies of records.

5. There is no charge up to 50 pages of requested records (standard letter size). After that, there will be a charge of .15 cents per page.

6. You are permitted to ask for a waiver of the copying fees.You must state the reason for a waiver of fees in your FOIA request, and include a specific reason why the requested information is in the public interest, not your personal interest, and therefore merits such a waiver.

Hand Deliver, fax, mail or email your request to:

FOIA Officer: Ken Ortman, City Clerk

                      122 S. 6th Street

                       Petersburg, IL  62675

                       Fax: 217-632-4342

                       Email: administration@petersburgil.org

HOW THE CITY WILL RESPOND:

The city must respond in 5 business days after the request is received. The 5 days start on the first business day AFTER the request is received. The City may extend the time to respond an additional 5 days if the requested information:

• Is stored in a different location

• Requires an extensive search

• Involves a substantial number of records

• Needs to be reviewed by an appropiate person to determine if requested records are exempt

• Cannot be produced without unduly burdening the City or interfering with its operation

The City must notify the requestor within 5 business days, if additional time is needed, the reason for the additional time and when it will be provided. If the City has not responded to the request within the 5 business days then the request is considered denied.If your request is denied you may appeal the denial to the Attorney General's Public Access Bureau (PAC).

Public Access Counselor

Office of the Attorney General

500 S. Second Street

Springfield, IL  62706

(217) 558-0486

publicaccess@atg.state.il.us

Good to Know

Please note that for a public information request to be valid, it must be submitted in writing to the City.