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Marquette County Board votes 5-1 to release redacted FOIA records in Sibley appeal
Summary
The Marquette County Board of Commissioners voted 5-1 on June 16, 2026, to release documents previously redacted in a Freedom of Information Act request by Eric Sibley; Civil Counsel said no written decision would be issued because the board was awarding the decision that night.
The Marquette County Board of Commissioners voted 5-1 on June 16, 2026, to release documents that had been redacted in a Freedom of Information Act request filed by resident Eric Sibley.
Sibley attended the special meeting and asked the board to un-redact the records he had requested under FOIA. Commissioner Kim Numinen noted there had been a lawful basis tied to a contract for the prior redactions, but the board nonetheless approved a motion to disclose the information. Commissioner Benzie moved to release the redacted material; Commissioner Nordeen seconded. The roll-call vote recorded ayes from Benzie, Nordeen, Alholm, Numinen and Chair Joseph Derocha and a lone nay from Commissioner LaLonde; the motion passed 5-1.
The decision followed brief public comment urging openness. Donovan Young of Ishpeming said, "transparency to the public is important." Margaret Brumm of Marquette urged the board to allow sufficient time for FOIA matters and called FOIA "a critical right of the public." Civil Counsel told Sibley the board would not issue a written decision because the board was awarding the decision at the meeting.
Why it matters: The vote directs county staff to provide the un-redacted documents requested by Sibley, altering the county's prior handling of the records. Commissioners who supported the release framed the action as responsive to public-rights concerns, while one commissioner opposed the release.
The meeting, convened by Chair Joseph Derocha, opened at 5:00 p.m. in Commissioners Room 231 at the Henry A. Skewis Annex. The board approved the meeting agenda at the start of the session by a 6-0 vote. Following the FOIA appeal and public comments, commissioners gave brief remarks and then moved to adjourn; the meeting ended at approximately 5:22 p.m.
No further action, such as a formal appeal process or a written legal finding, was recorded in the minutes. The board listed a closed-session item on the agenda but took a motion to adjourn instead; the minutes do not indicate a closed session was convened.
