Opacity and refusal are alarming traits in government service or lack thereof. Either way, they certainly tend to raise suspicions with the appearance there's something to hide. Thank you, Councilmember Jody Ronning for stepping forward with information!
A few people have commented to me privately that if I am unwilling to pay for the City's time to fulfill my records request, I should not report that I have not been provided documents. I paid $15 for an additional hour of clerical time (on top of the half hour provided free of charge) to receive information on six leases. Three of the lease documents the City provided were incomplete or out of date. If the City can't produce six complete documents currently controlling use of six City properties in an hour and a half, it appears Red Lodge either has a problem with its filing system or transparency.
Opacity and refusal are alarming traits in government service or lack thereof. Either way, they certainly tend to raise suspicions with the appearance there's something to hide. Thank you, Councilmember Jody Ronning for stepping forward with information!
A few people have commented to me privately that if I am unwilling to pay for the City's time to fulfill my records request, I should not report that I have not been provided documents. I paid $15 for an additional hour of clerical time (on top of the half hour provided free of charge) to receive information on six leases. Three of the lease documents the City provided were incomplete or out of date. If the City can't produce six complete documents currently controlling use of six City properties in an hour and a half, it appears Red Lodge either has a problem with its filing system or transparency.