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Board adopts updated public records ordinance after public hearing
Summary
After reopening a public hearing, commissioners adopted an ordinance replacing county public records procedures to clarify response times, de minimis charges and contact information; staff emphasized tracking and occasional fee waivers via govQA.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners closed a public hearing and adopted an ordinance replacing the county’s public records request procedures, updating response timelines, de minimis charging practices and designated public records officers.
Nut graf: Staff said the ordinance clarifies that the public records officer shall respond within five business days of receipt, retains a de minimis exemption for requests under 35 pages that may be waived, and names a second records officer in the sheriff’s office. Commissioners discussed fee waivers, tracking of multiple low‑page requests and the county’s use of the govQA portal to fulfill many requests.
County Administrator Brian Danzel thanked the public records officer for drafting the ordinance and recommended adoption. "If you all didn't see anything that needed changed, I would recommend that you adopt it," Danzel said. The public records officer described the fee and waiver processes and noted most requests are filled through the county's govQA system.
The board discussed the practical effect of the 35‑page de minimis provision. The public records officer said physical copy requests can still be charged but the county typically waives fees for small page counts; the officer also said govQA can track waiver frequency and that fee waiver requests under statute will be reviewed case‑by‑case.
Commissioners debated the balance between transparency and staff workload; one commissioner said the law and case law generally favor requesters. The board received no public testimony during the hearing and then voted to adopt the ordinance (Ordinance O8‑2025).
Ending: The ordinance was adopted at the meeting. Staff said they will continue to use the govQA system to process many requests, maintain records of waivers and ensure the sheriff’s office records officer is available for requests related to that office.
