imported post
Glock9mmOldStyle wrote:
This appears to be a little po-dunk township. As others have said they can charge you for copies (max 25 cents per page) this is why you ask if they have a copy placed at a local library. If so you go there ( usually libraries only charge you 10 cents per copy)
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This is public information (no FOIA needed) if this is their Clerks office giving you a hard time, I can only image what their PD is going to be like.
PM me their number. I'll call for you if you like, in the morning.
Yep, it is a small rural township just about 3 miles from me. And the contention wasn't so much that I would actually be refused access/copies but more of a .... how dare anyone want to carry a gun in our parks around the children!!!!.... coupled with a reluctance to even start looking it up... type thing. Guy I was talking to mentioned folks legally carrying a gun responding to a small child that kicked them in the shins.... sigh!!!!..... but the lady who also was there was very co operative and helpful although it was clear the guy was in charge... anyway... I kept video and audio recording of all of that for my records as usual.
My question was really if asking for copies of ordinances fell under FOIA with the resulting ability to charge FOIA fees for said copies. This was a new one on me since all my other requests for ordinance copies from other local governments were met with a smile and a 10 minute wait while copies were made. And offers to pay for those copies were also met with a smile and being told that if I had wanted the whole book they would charge me but won't charge for just copying a couple of individual ordinances. And I am willing to pay a
reasonable fee for copying charges.... but, to my mind, looking up ordinances (labor charge) isn't reasonable since that sort of thing should be part of the job. But I've been wrong before on stuff so maybe charging for labor to look through a book containing the code of ordinances (that should be available to the public free of charge anyway) is considered
reasonable.
I guess I was just surprised to be handed a printout of FOIA fees for a simple thing like a copies of a couple of ordinances. But if I end up paying many tens of dollars for copies of a couple of ordinances involving a few paragraphs that should cost about 5 bucks (at the most!) for copying........ I will look into what can be done about it.
There isn't any local library.... and, although I do sincerely appreciate your offer to call them on my behalf, at this early point I'd prefer to just wait and see if what I requested is provided for a reasonable fee. If it isn't provided or the fee is unreasonable then it becomes a different story.... and I'll be going to yet another township council meeting I guess. Might have to anyway if their ordinances are in violation.... since if the reaction from that one guy is any indication of the degree of co operation actually changing an ordinance might prove to involve a little bit of hassle.... which is OK... not a stranger to that either.
My sincere thanks for your help Glock9mm... and to everyone else who helped answer my question. Without a doubt the folks here are very well informed.... and exceptionally helpful!
Oh yeah... if anyone happens to be driving North on M13 around lunch time on their way to Saginaw the Albee Township Hall/Community Center and park is on the West side located just a little over a mile North past the Backwoods Grill, which is mostly a bar. It is a very nice park with shaded picnic areas and a walking trail through the woods.
And if ya you will be there and mention it here Yooperlady and I will join ya. We can bring extra stuff to make sammiches.
