Carbondale Reporter

FOIA Request to City of Marion regarding vendor payment registers on November 10, 2025.

The Carbondale Reporter has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the City of Marion, Illinois, seeking access to vendor payment registers. The request was sent on November 10, 2025, and aims to obtain records covering the period from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025.

The requested records include detailed information about vendors paid by the city during this timeframe. Specifically, the Carbondale Reporter is seeking documentation that lists the names of vendors, dates and amounts of payments made by the city, and descriptions or purposes of goods and services provided. This request emphasizes that it pertains only to existing records and does not seek the creation of new documents.

Marion | wikipedia.org

As part of its commitment to transparency and accountability in local government affairs, the Carbondale Reporter has requested these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). The organization has also requested a fee waiver due to its role as a media entity involved in gathering and disseminating news for public benefit.

The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization based in Missouri. This coalition supports media companies and advocacy groups in their efforts to investigate governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this organization can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.

In Illinois, pet owners must have a license for certain pets like dogs and comply with state and local regulations. These licenses are defined in the Illinois Animal Welfare Act and must comply with both state-level Animal Welfare Rules as well as federal guidelines. Licensing involves periodic renewal fees which support animal control programs ensuring pets are vaccinated against diseases such as rabies.

We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.