FOIA Request to Village of Downs regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Village of Downs by Prairie State Wire, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request, dated February 1, 2026, seeks access to the village’s vendor payment register for the preceding calendar month. The records requested include details such as the names of vendors paid by the city, dates and amounts of payments, and descriptions of goods or services purchased.
The request emphasizes that it is intended to gather information of public interest for dissemination. It specifies that only existing records are sought and does not require the creation of new documents. In case any part of the request is denied or withheld, Prairie State Wire has asked for a specific statutory basis for such denial and requests that all reasonably segregable portions be released.
Prairie State Wire has expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format if available. As a member of the media, they have also requested a fee waiver due to their role in gathering and reporting news to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this organization can be found on their website here.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
