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Upshur County Commission restricts FOIA requests by email, citing cybersecurity concerns
Summary
The commission approved revisions to the county Freedom of Information Act policy that will take effect July 1, 2026, and will stop accepting records requests submitted by email, a change administrators said responds to cybersecurity and spam risks.
The Upshur County Commission on June 11 approved revisions to the county Freedom of Information Act policy that will, effective July 1, 2026, stop accepting public‑records requests submitted by e‑mail.
County Administrator Tabatha R. Perry told the commission the principal change removes e‑mail as an accepted request method because of cyber security and spam concerns. The revision was presented in the meeting packet and discussed during the agenda review.
Commissioner Samuel R. Nolte moved to approve the policy revision; Commission President Kristie G. Tenney seconded the motion. The commission voted unanimously to adopt the revisions, which the clerk will implement with an effective date of July 1, 2026.
The revision was described by staff as intended to reduce risk and administrative burden; the packet said copies of the revised policy were included for review. The action does not itself create a new request channel in the record; the county administrator and clerk will need to publish the revised request procedures and any alternative submission methods before the July 1 effective date.
