A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City of Edwardsville, Illinois, regarding building permits on October 30, 2024. The request was made by us at Metro East Sun, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our request, we sought records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. Specifically, we asked for a list of all new residential and commercial building permits issued from January 1, 2023, until the present date. The requested details include the type of permit, date issued, fee paid, requester's name, address and contractor's name.
Additionally, we also requested a list of all active residential and commercial building permits along with their current status. The same details as mentioned above were asked for these active permits as well.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We await a response from the City of Edwardsville and will continue our efforts in ensuring transparency and accountability in local government affairs.
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