No Answers From City

To the Editor:

I’ve asked for public information twice using the guidelines set forth in the Public Information Act on the Attorney General’s website. Both requests related to economic development spending within the City of La Grange. Neither time did I receive what I asked for even after being referred to the City Attorney. I assumed it was just not knowing the correct way to ask or knowing the exact documents to ask for.

The recent story about Flatonia’s mismanagement of funds and a sitting City Councilmember’s plea for an audit and review of timesheets and employee leave has me filling out another request for public information found on the La Grange city website.

With today’s technological advancements, it (doesn’t really) shocks me that the government is not the most transparent organization around and leading by example in how it’s done. Live streamed meetings, real time spending and budget tracking would not be that difficult.

Lastly, who should be asking for this information? As someone passionate about economic development in our region, I’m genuinely interested in how we are spending money and the impact it’s making. Further, if there is a $3,600 print job to print 5,000 brochures, I’d like to help find a local print shop to do this work, rather than send the job to South Bend, Indiana. (This was found in a previous public information request)

A council member has been asking for an audit for two years, last week the City Manager said he would “have to explore that” relating to a councilmember’s concern about timesheets and employee leave, yet there was nothing on the agenda for this week to update the City Council. Makes me think of the phrase the tail is wagging the dog.

What’s the proper way to ask for public information and who should be requesting it? And what happens if our city staff just ignores it?

Brandon Schielack La Grange