Records Request

Elected official attempting to gain information to help make rational and appropriate decisions often need information and documents from a variety of sources. In most instances citizens and elected officials alike are able to obtain requested information with little difficulty. Unfortunately that's not the case when making requests through Loudon County Mayor Doyle Arp.

Since the day he took office Arp has taken every opportunity to delay or in some cases deny public information to the public. It seems sometimes it's a matter of what the requested information is determines how difficult it is to get.

As the board of education begins it's budgeting process, members need lots of information to deliberate on and ultimately vote for a budget. Last week I requested a couple of items needed for the process.

3/26/09
To all,

I would like to get a copy of the 2008 1099 lists for county government and the board of education. As usual electronic form would be fine.

Thanks and have a good weekend.

Van
________________________________________

3/27/08
Van, 

I have received your request for the 2008 1099 lists for county government and the board of education .   This office is currently in the process of retrieving, reviewing, and/or redacting the requested records.  Have a nice day!

(Brenda Bright Arp's secretary)
__________________________________________

3/27/09
Van,

I have attached a  records production letter to inform you that by April 6th  either the records you have requested to inspect/receive copies of will be available or a determination of accessibility and availability will be made regarding the requested records.   Have a nice weekend!!!

Brenda Bright
Phone 865-458-4664
__________________________________________

For eight years I have requested a copy of the 1099 lists. This list is simply a list of names of individuals and companies who receive any money from the county without any tax withholding. This information helps to analyze payroll data. It's not uncommon to find some interesting names on the list.

Below is a copy of the "records production letter" mentioned above. The 1099 documents I requested normally take about two strokes on a keyboard to retrieve and send. But in the world where Arp is king and where secrets are so important, public records are rarely easily accessed and there are no assurances that the requested information hasn't been altered. See note in letter:  "retrieving, reviewing, and/or redacting the requested records."

If it's this hard for an elected official to get public records from Arp's office, I suspect others could have the same problem. Hopefully, I will be able to get the public records I requested before the BOE budget process is over. This is so silly. 

 

RECORDS PRODUCTION LETTER
LOUDON COUNTY GOVERNMENT
DOYLE ARP, MAYOR
100 River Road, Suite 103 . Box 106 ' Loudon, Tennessee 37774-1442
Phone 865-4584664' Fax 865-458-6508
March 27,2008


Dear Sir:
On Thursday, March 26,2009 9:55 pm this Office received your open records request to inspect/receive copies of 2008 1099 lists for county government and the board of education. Tennessee Code Annotated $ 10-7-503(a) provides the following: (2XB) The custodian of a public record or the custodian's designee shall promptly make available for inspection any public record not specifically exempt from disclosure. In the event it is not practicable for the record to be promptly available for inspection, the custodian shall within seven (7) business days:

(i) Make such information available to the requestor;
(ii) Deny the request in writing or by completing a records request response form developed by the office of open records counsel. The response shall include the basis for the denial; or
(iii) Furnish the requestor a completed records request response form developed by the office of open records counsel stating the time reasonably necessary to produce such record or information.

This Office is currently in the process of retrieving, reviewing, and/or redacting the requested records. In accordance with the above-cited law, this letter is being sent to inform you that by April 6th either the records you have requested to inspect/receive copies of will be available or a determination of accessibility and availability will be made regarding the requested records.

If you have any additional questions please contact Doyle Arp, Mayor, at (865) 458-4664.
Sincerely,

Record Custodian;
Brenda Bright
Administrative Assistant Office of County Mayor Arp
100 River Road, Suite 106
Loudon TN,37774
865-458-4664 Ext. 104

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3/30/09