A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Springfield City Council regarding details of council members on October 15, 2024. The request was made by us at Sangamon Sun, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The information requested under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, includes a list of all council members with specific fields. These fields are Name, Title, Year Appointed, Term (2 or 4 years), and Term Expire Date. We prefer this information in an electronic format for easy accessibility and dissemination.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is essential 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 media professionals.
We await a response from the Springfield City Council and will keep our readers updated on any developments regarding this request.