FOIA Request to Pope County regarding new contracts or amendments on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted by Southern Illinois News to the Treasurer’s Office of Pope County, Illinois. The request, sent on February 1, 2026, seeks access to records concerning new contracts and any amendments to existing contracts that were executed, approved, or became effective during the immediately preceding calendar month.
The request specifically asks for several details related to these contracts and amendments. These include the title of the contract or amendment, names of contracting parties involved, effective and approval dates, contract amounts or amended values, and descriptions of the goods or services covered. The purpose of this request is to gather information of public interest for dissemination to the public.
Southern Illinois News emphasizes that this request is limited to records that currently exist and does not require the creation of new documents. In case any portion of this request is denied or withheld, they have asked for a specific statutory basis for such denial and have requested all reasonably segregable portions of the records be released. They also expressed willingness to receive these records in electronic format if available.
As a member of the media committed to gathering and reporting news, Southern Illinois News highlights its role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency. They have requested a fee waiver based on their professional responsibilities in disseminating information.
The requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information laws. More information about this organization can be found on their website here.
The average student-to-teacher ratio in Pope County was 13-to-1 in the 2022-23 school year, with 475 students enrolled and 37 full-time faculty members across the county’s schools.
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.
