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Sturgis commissioners and staff discuss scope and timing of multiple FOIA requests
Summary
Commissioners questioned staff about the status and scope of three FOIA requests involving commissioner communications and one airport-related request; staff said two responses were complete and one required additional email review and redactions.
Commissioners pressed staff on the status and scope of several FOIA requests during the July 14 meeting, seeking clarity about what was released and what remains under review.
Commissioner Wirt asked whether the FOIA investigation and responsive records had been completed; staff said two of three requests had been completed and a third required additional review because it included emails that may need redaction. Staff explained FOIA responses must be responsive to the specific request presented and may exclude nonresponsive individual communications. "FOIA is construed based on the actual request presented," a city attorney (Ken Rhodes) said, describing that staff respond to the records that match the request’s scope.
Commissioners and staff discussed whether group text messages (a named group thread involving the city manager) and one-on-one commissioner communications were part of the responsive records; staff said group text threads specifically identified in the request were produced, while individual private messages that were not responsive were not automatically released. Staff acknowledged the volume of records and the need to review emails for personal identifying and exempt information before release.
A separate FOIA requester about airport matters was discussed; staff said scheduling for a related work session is likely in August because of the requester’s availability.
The commission did not take formal action but directed staff to continue responding and to provide copies to commissioners on request as appropriate.
