FOIA Request to City of Brookport regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the City of Brookport by Southern Illinois News on February 1, 2026. The request seeks access to the city’s vendor payment register for the immediately preceding calendar month. This request is made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, and aims to obtain records in an electronic format if available.
The specific information requested includes the names of vendors paid by the city, dates and amounts of payments, and descriptions of goods or services purchased. The purpose of this request is to gather information that holds public interest and to disseminate it to the public. The request emphasizes that it pertains only to existing records and does not necessitate the creation of new documents.
Southern Illinois News has also requested a fee waiver for accessing these records, citing their role as a media organization committed to gathering and reporting news for public benefit. They emphasize that access to such public records is crucial for ensuring transparency and accountability within public institutions.
Additionally, Southern Illinois News is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization based in Missouri. This coalition assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA requests and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website here.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
