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Committee recommends policy to clarify enhanced access and fees for county digital public records
Summary
Manistee County's Policy/Personnel Committee recommended an Enhanced Access to Public Records Policy clarifying that digital/GIS outputs and other records listed in a county fee schedule are subject to fees; policy cites the Enhanced Access to Public Records Act and FOIA.
Lisa Sagala, Administrator/Controller, presented an Enhanced Access to Public Records Policy (Appendix E) that the committee recommended to the full Board of Commissioners. Sagala said Manistee County had received numerous FOIA requests and the policy is intended to make the FOIA policy "more robust," clarifying that enhanced digital access and certain GIS outputs can carry fees adopted by the board and are not automatically fee-exempt. "Manistee County received a lot of FOIA requests," she said during the presentation. The committee moved to recommend approval (moved by Shayne Machen, seconded by Eric Gustad).
Appendix E cites the Enhanced Access to Public Records Act (1996 P.A. 462, MCL 15.441 et seq.) and the Freedom of Information Act (1976 P.A. 442, MCL 15.232). The document defines "enhanced access," references a county Digital Data Acquisition Master Fee Structure and states that the county may waive or reduce fees when access primarily benefits the general public or serves an educational purpose. The recommendation now goes to the full board for consideration and any final adoption of a fee schedule.
