Commentary

A Letter to City Hall about Access to Public Records
July 9, 2003

Helen D. Gunderson, as a citizen of Gilbert, wrote an official letter on July 9 to the Gilbert mayor, council members, and acting clerk about issues related to Iowa's open meeting and public records laws. In the letter, she asked for clarity on several things, including the city's policies regarding access to information in light of the freedom of information laws.

Helen wrote the letter because she was fed up with the mayor's and council member's long history of skirting the spirit of the open meeting laws in conducting their work and because they have essentially ignored many previous letters that she has sent them about the need to be more open.

She concluded her letter asking for a timely response and stating, "If you refuse to provide me with the information I have requested, please cite the specific reason(s) and exception(s) which you believe justify your refusal to release the information, and inform me of the city’s administrative appeal procedure."

Helen is the Gazette editor, and we will keep you posted of how the mayor and council respond to her letter. We will also keep you posted of subsequent steps that Helen takes in holding the mayor and council accountable for their closed style of doing business.