FOIA Request to Village of Merrionette Park regarding new contracts or amendments on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Village of Merrionette Park by South Cook News on February 1, 2026. The request seeks access to records concerning new contracts and any amendments to existing contracts that were executed, approved, or became effective during the immediately preceding calendar month.
The specific details requested include the title of each contract or amendment, the names of contracting parties involved, effective and approval dates, contract amounts or amended values, and descriptions of the goods or services covered. The request emphasizes that it is limited to records that currently exist and does not require the creation of new documents.
South Cook News has expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format if available. In addition, they have requested a fee waiver based on their role as a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. They highlight their commitment to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency through access to public records.
If any portion of this request is denied or withheld, South Cook News has asked for a specific statutory basis for such denial and requests that all reasonably segregable portions of the records be released. This request aligns with their involvement with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which assists media companies in investigating governmental agencies using FOIA laws.
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.
