FOIA Request to Village of Wataga regarding expense reimbursement records on February 1, 2026.
On February 1, 2026, Prairie State Wire submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Village of Wataga. The request seeks access to the village’s expense reimbursement records for the immediately preceding calendar month. This inquiry is made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.
The specific details requested include the name and title of individuals reimbursed, dates and amounts of reimbursements, descriptions of expenses reimbursed, and the associated department or office. The request emphasizes that it is limited to existing records and does not require creating new documents. If 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 the records be released.
Prairie State Wire identifies itself as a media organization dedicated to gathering and reporting news related to public interest. They highlight their role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency. As such, they have requested a fee waiver based on their status as a media professional.
Additionally, Prairie State Wire is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization assisting media companies in investigating governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition 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.
