FOIA Request to Village of Lerna regarding new contracts or amendments on February 1, 2026.
The Prairie State Wire has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Village of Lerna, Illinois. The request seeks access to records concerning new contracts and any amendments to existing contracts that were executed, approved, or became effective during the immediately preceding calendar month.
The requested information includes several specific details: the title of each contract or amendment, the names of contracting parties involved, effective and approval dates, contract amounts or amended values, and descriptions of the goods or services covered. The Prairie State Wire has emphasized that this request is aimed at gathering information of public interest for dissemination purposes and does not require the creation of new documents.
In their communication, the Prairie State Wire also requested that if any part of this request is denied or withheld, the specific statutory basis for such denial should be provided along with all reasonably segregable portions of the records. They have expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format if available.
As members of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating governmental agencies and promoting transparency through FOIA and Sunshine Laws, Prairie State Wire asserts their role in holding public institutions accountable. They have also requested a fee waiver based on their status as media professionals.
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.
