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Clerk: FOIA appeal denied; township says no responsive records exist
Summary
The Board received an appeal of FOIA #2026-43 and voted 6‑0 to uphold the clerk’s denial, stating after searches no responsive records exist and that any files from 2000 would have been destroyed under the retention schedule in 2011; the clerk’s notice directs records requests for law‑enforcement/911 files to the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office.
At the July 21 meeting the board considered an appeal of a FOIA denial (FOIA #2026‑43). Clerk Evan Hope presented a memorandum recommending the board receive the appeal and uphold the denial. The clerk’s written response to the request (dated June 25, 2026) cited HIPAA as a reason to deny medical records requests under MCL 15.235(2)(b) and explained options to appeal or seek court review. At the board meeting, staff further reported that after searching paper and electronic files no records responsive to the request were found and that files from 2000 (if any) would have been destroyed after retention periods expired in 2011.
Trustee Tom Lenard moved and Trustee DiAnne Warfield supported a motion to receive the appeal and uphold the denial; the motion passed by roll call, 6‑0. The clerk’s recommended motion includes issuing written notice that no records exist and advising the requester to direct law‑enforcement or dispatch records requests to the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office. The packet cites FOIA statutory provisions and the township’s FOIA Procedures and Guidelines for further explanation.
