FOIA Request to Village of Fayetteville regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Village of Fayetteville on February 1, 2026, by Prairie State Wire. The request seeks access to the village’s vendor payment register for the immediately preceding calendar month. This request is made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, and emphasizes a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.
The records requested include detailed information about transactions conducted by the village with various vendors. Specifically, Prairie State Wire has asked for the names of vendors paid by the city, along with the dates and amounts of payments made. Additionally, descriptions of goods or services purchased are sought to provide a comprehensive view of financial activities within the municipality.
This request is aimed at gathering information that holds public interest and is intended for dissemination to inform citizens about local governmental affairs. The requester has clarified that they seek only existing records and do not require new documents to be created.
In case any part of this 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 of records be released. They have also expressed willingness to receive these records electronically if available.
As a member of the media involved in news gathering and reporting, Prairie State Wire underscores its role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency. They have requested a fee waiver citing their status as media professionals.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA requests. More information about this organization can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
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.
