Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) ensures transparency and accountability in government operations, allowing citizens to access records held by government agencies. As a publicly funded entity, Barry Conservation District (BCD) is subject to FOIA regulations and committed to providing access to information regarding its activities, decisions, and use of resources.

FOIA Coordinator

The Executive Director of BCD is the designated FOIA Coordinator, responsible for accepting and processing FOIA requests and approving any denials.

Processing FOIA Requests

In accordance with FOIA (MCLA 15.236) and Barry CD Policy (I.5), the FOIA Coordinator will respond with one of the following within five (5) business days:

• Grant the Request: Make the records available to the requester.

• Deny the Request: Submit a written notice denying the request, stating the reasons for denial, including an explanation of the requester’s right to appeal the decision.

• Grant in Part and Deny in Part: Provide some of the requested records and deny the rest.

• Extension: Issue a notice extending the response period by up to ten (10) business days.

Fees

Most requests take less than fifteen (15) minutes or fewer than ten (10) copies, and are free of charge. For requests requiring more time or copies, the following fees apply:

Labor Costs: $16/hour (the rate of the lowest paid employee capable of performing the task).

Copying Charges: $0.10 per page.

Mailing Costs: Actual cost of postage or express service.

Material Costs: Actual costs of electronic media such as CDs, DVDs, or flash drives.

If the fee is anticipated to be more than $50.00, a deposit of 50% of the estimated fee is required. If the requester submits an affidavit of indigence, the first $20.00 of the fee is waived.