FOIA Request to City of Oak Forest regarding new contracts or amendments on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted by South Cook News to the City of Oak Forest, Illinois, seeking access to records concerning new contracts and amendments to existing contracts. The request specifically targets documents that were executed, approved, or became effective during the immediately preceding calendar month.
The request outlines a need for several specific details within these records: the title of each contract or amendment, names of contracting parties involved, effective and approval dates, contract amounts or amended values, and descriptions of the goods or services covered. This information is sought in electronic format where possible and aims to provide transparency on local governmental affairs.
South Cook News emphasizes that this request is made in the public interest for dissemination purposes. It seeks only existing records without necessitating the creation of new documents. In case any part of the request is denied, they ask for a clear statutory basis for such denial and expect all reasonably segregable portions of the records to be released.
As a media organization dedicated to holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency, South Cook News requests a fee waiver based on their role in gathering and reporting news. They are affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which aids media companies in investigating government actions through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
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.
