For reasons only the DeKalb Library director and their attorney know a FOIA request by the Daily Chronicle for the letter of intent to purchase DeKalb Clinic property was denied. They first denied my request for the same letter but then a couple of days later they provided me with the letter. Unbelievable.
Chronicle reporter Elena Grimm attended the library board meeting when Gary Cordes (their lawyer) was told by executive director, Dee Coover, to take us (media types) to her office (and away from a closed session meeting) to give us a “special announcement.” She has been reporting on the story ever since.
The Chronicle filed a Request for Review with the Illinois Attorney General’s office. That office is getting a drawer-full from DeKalb.
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4 Comments
Is the Chronicle's issue in your opinion Mac one of fairness and equal access or crying over spilled milk because you got the letter and they did not? I too was curious about the redacted part as Kerry was.
Thanks for bringing this to light.
SO Mac, what do you suppose is under that redacting black magic marker on the first line of conditions listed in the Letter of Intent? Let's see…what can legally be redacted under FOIA rules?
Kerry, the first line is the amount offered. I believe they can redact that information because that would be negotiations and therefore exempt under the 24 exclusions to OMA. This letter, which calls for earnest payments and commits both parties to the terms outlined was approved in closed session in November, 2009. That is an OMA violation (no final action may be taken…).
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Lisa… I definitely think the Chronicle's concern is fairness and equal access. They're trying to get to the facts and it is beyond my comprehension as to why the library would stonewall them on the Letter of Intent when they provided the letter to me.