County adopts public information policy

The Lincoln County Commission on June 21 unanimously voted to adopt a public information policy that sets guidelines for county departments to follow in disclosing public documents.

The policy, little more than one page in length, includes a fee schedule. Standard-sized copy charges are 50 cents for the first page and 25 cents for each page thereafter. Staff time associated with the fulfilling of a public records request will be charged at the rate of $30 an hour after the first 15 minutes of research.

“Departments charging for time shall not charge for time to produce documents of which they are the custodians,” the policy states, “but rather, time to review, gather or redact documents held by said department.”

A department may require advance payment “so long as the costs are documented in a written estimate provided tot he person making the request.”

The policy also outlines confidential information not to be disclosed to the public, including personnel, payroll or medical records and records required by law or regulation to be kept confidential.

Any department denying a public information request is to notify the Lincoln County Attorney’s Office of the denial and to explain why access was denied.

The policy includes a form for people to use in requesting information.