Mayor: Orange Village complied with Ohio Supreme Court order to release email list; village posts eNews online

Mayor Klein told residents June 4 that Orange Village had complied with a public-records request for the village resident database and e-newsletter mailing list after the Ohio Supreme Court held communities must treat collected email lists as public records.

“The village did comply with the request as per the court's order,” Mayor Klein said. He said the village recognizes residents’ concerns about solicitations and has posted eNews copies on the village website so people can view community materials without having their personal information circulated. “Please understand that a solicitation to you via email from someone who has obtained your email from us is not an endorsement by The Village,” the mayor added.

Council members and staff also discussed whether the identity of the requestor must be disclosed; one staff member said the requester information had been made public and that the records request itself is part of the public record. The mayor said the village is “taking every measure and step that we can legally in order to protect our community.”

Why it matters: Residents who provided email addresses for village communications will see those addresses treated as public records under the court’s ruling; the village has posted eNews on its site and offers ways for individuals to ask to be removed from lists.

Next steps: Village staff will continue to follow legal guidance on public-records obligations and provide eNews materials on the website.