Todd County adopts updated data practices policy and requires prepayment for public data requests

The Todd County Board of Commissioners on June 16 adopted an updated county Data Practices Policy and voted to require prepayment for public data requests. The resolution, introduced and adopted unanimously, replaces the county ata Practices Policy adopted in 2012 and is based on the Minnesota Department of Administration—ield model.

County Attorney Lindemann reviewed and approved the proposed policy prior to the vote, the minutes show. The Board also approved updating the county ata Request website to require prepayment of estimated staff time and copying costs for data requests as authorized under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13.

Board members said the update brings county practice in line with current statutory requirements and administrative best practices. The policy adoption was recorded as a unanimous roll-call vote; the resolution states it supersedes the prior policy adopted Aug. 7, 2012 and takes effect June 16, 2026. The website change was authorized by motion the same day; the minutes record that the Board approved implementing prepayment consistent with the new policy and state law.

What the policy does: the resolution adopts the Department of Administration—rame language for public access and retention of government data, clarifies staff responsibilities and replaces the 2012 policy document. The related website change will require requesters to prepay estimated staff time and copying costs before nonroutine data productions proceed, per the county ction.

The Board did not record additional procedural details in the minutes about how estimated staff time will be calculated or how requesters will be notified of cost estimates; that administrative guidance will be set by county staff following the resolution. The policy and the website update were adopted without recorded dissent. The resolution and the website change are effective immediately as of the June 16 action.