FOIA Request to Village of Thebes regarding employee overtime records on February 1, 2026.
A request has been submitted to the Village of Thebes under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, seeking access to specific employee overtime records. The request was made by Southern Illinois News, a media organization dedicated to delivering accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request aims to obtain copies of the village’s employee overtime records for the immediately preceding calendar month. Specifically, it seeks information including the name and job title of each employee, their department or office, dates and number of overtime hours worked, and any overtime compensation paid. The requester has emphasized that these records are sought in an electronic format if available.
This inquiry is part of an effort to gather information deemed of public interest for dissemination purposes. It is important to note that the request is limited to existing documents and does not require the creation of new ones. In cases where any portion of this request might be denied or withheld, a specific statutory basis for such denial is requested along with all reasonably segregable portions of the records.
As members of Southern Illinois News, we have stated our eligibility for a fee waiver due to our role in gathering and reporting news to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency. Additionally, this request is supported by The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which assists media companies in investigating governmental agencies using Freedom of Information laws.
We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.
