FOIA Request to Village of Bush regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Village of Bush by a representative from the Carbondale Reporter on February 1, 2026. The request seeks access to specific records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. The requested documents pertain to the village’s vendor payment register for the immediately preceding calendar month.
The Carbondale Reporter is seeking detailed information including the names of vendors paid by the city, dates and amounts of payments, and descriptions of goods or services purchased. This request aims to gather information that holds public interest and will be disseminated to the public through their reporting efforts. The request emphasizes that it is limited to existing records and does not necessitate the creation of new documents.
In accordance with their role as a media organization, Carbondale Reporter has requested these records in electronic format if available. They have also expressed their eligibility for a fee waiver due to their professional responsibilities in gathering and reporting news which involves holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found at this link.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
