FOIA Request to Village of Lena regarding procurement bids and RFP submissions on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Village of Lena by Prairie State Wire, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request seeks access to records concerning procurement bids and responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) received by the city during the immediately preceding calendar month.
The requested records include detailed information such as solicitation or project titles, names of bidders or proposers, submission dates, bid amounts or proposed costs, and descriptions of the goods or services proposed. The purpose of this request is to gather information of public interest for dissemination to the public. Prairie State Wire has emphasized that the request is limited to existing records and does not necessitate the creation of new documents.
In their communication, Prairie State Wire also highlighted their role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency through news reporting. They have requested a fee waiver citing their status as a member of the media. Additionally, they are affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws.
We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.
