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<font face="Arial">Hi Guys,<br>
<br>
We got those same emails a couple of weeks ago. Being a new
director, I was worried, so I emailed a trusted colleague. He and
his colleague gave me some EXCELLENT advice that I would like to
pass on to you.<br>
<br>
He wrote, "</font><i>Oh gosh. That's nothing for her to fret over.
I would not even go so far as to say “hit with a FOIA” like its
negative... It’s one of those “open government” places that makes
wage information of government employees easily accessible. [My
library] gets one every year. I am not sure what triggers their
interest other than random samplings of local governments and
schools in a geographic area. I have another one I get every
quarter called Smart Procure. They ask for All purchases made.
These are just big mass FOIA companies for “holding government
accountable”. They don't actually care about her. It’s just a stat
for their database. </i><i>Other than the time it takes to fill
out a report, which for her should not be too bad, it’s an extra
large nothing burger. With pickles ;). "<br>
<br>
</i>Looking at it THAT way made me realize that it was no big deal
and made me feel SO much better. I had our bookkeeper run two quick
reports on Quickbooks and emailed them off, and then we had two
extra large nothing burgers... with pickles.<br>
<br>
I hope that helps and makes you feel a little less worried.<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Kari Besancon (Bə-sank’-in), MLIS
District Director
Iosco-Arenac District Library
zv323
989-362-2651
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:k.besancon@vlc.lib.mi.us">k.besancon@vlc.lib.mi.us</a></pre>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/12/2024 1:06 PM, Lynne Lesky via
Michlib-l wrote:<br>
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We also got them. We are working on how to respond. I will let
you know what we do. This is also my first time responding to a
FOIA request, but I was told that we get this one every year, so
we are looking for what we sent last year. </div>
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Lynne </div>
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<div><span
style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Lynne
K. Lesky, Director</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px;"><span
style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alanson
Area Public Library</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px;"><span
style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7631
Burr Avenue PO Box 37</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px;"><span
style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alanson,
MI 49706</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px;"><span
style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(231)
548-5465</span></div>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font style="font-size:11pt"
face="Calibri, sans-serif" color="#000000"><b>From:</b>
Michlib-l <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org"><michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org></a> on behalf of Kay
Hurd via Michlib-l <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:michlib-l@mcls.org"><michlib-l@mcls.org></a><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, March 12, 2024 12:59 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:michlib-l@mcls.org">michlib-l@mcls.org</a> <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:michlib-l@mcls.org"><michlib-l@mcls.org></a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Michlib-l] FOIA Request</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div style="line-break:after-white-space">
<div>I have received 2 separate requests for financial records
from American Transparency. Is anyone else getting this? If
so, how are you handling it? This is my first time.</div>
<div>Thanks,</div>
<div>
<div><font style="font-size:17px" face="Brush Script MT"
color="#1743ff">Kay E. Hurd</font></div>
<div>Director</div>
<div>Almont District Library</div>
<div>213 W. St. Clair</div>
<div>P.O. Box 517</div>
<div>Almont, MI. 48003-0517</div>
<div>810-798-3100 voice</div>
<div>810-798-2208 fax</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:director@adlmi.org">director@adlmi.org</a></div>
<div><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:khurd@adlmi.org">khurd@adlmi.org</a></div>
<div><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.adlmi.org">www.adlmi.org</a></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div><br>
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<div><br>
</div>
03/08/2024<br>
<br>
Records Access Officer,<br>
<br>
Pursuant to the FOIA, this is a request for <span
style="background-color:rgb(255,255,0)"><b>an electronic copy
of all payment transactions for Almont District Library for
calendar year 2023 or fiscal year 2022-2023</b></span>. This
could be considered one of the following reports: <i>Vendor
Payment Checkbook Report, Checkbook Register, Expenditure
Data, Transactional Detail Payments, Online Checkbook, or
Disbursements</i>. Here is an online example from the City of
San Anonio, Texas (<a
href="https://www.sanantonio.gov/Finance/bfi/registers#50043241-fy2019"
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://www.sanantonio.gov/Finance/bfi/registers#50043241-fy2019</a>).
We would accept any existing report which contains a minimum of
the Payee Name, Amount and Date of each transaction.<br>
<br>
The principal purpose of this is to make this information more
accessible to the public and to disseminate information
regarding the health, safety, and welfare of the general public.
This request is not for personal or commercial benefit and we
are exercising the general rights of the public. For this reason
we are requesting a waiver of fees.<br>
<br>
If there is a fee for this data, please obtain my approval in
writing prior to proceeding with this request. All documents can
be e-mailed to <a href="mailto:Michigan@OpenTheBooks.com"
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">Michigan@OpenTheBooks.com</a>.
We would prefer a file format of csv or xlsx.<br>
<br>
If any records or portions of records are withheld, please
provide the exemption and the name of the individual responsible
for the decision.<br>
<br>
Thank you for your prompt consideration of my request. If you
have any questions, or if I can be of any assistance, please
e-mail me at <a href="mailto:Michigan@OpenTheBooks.com"
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">Michigan@OpenTheBooks.com</a>.<br>
<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
Christopher Schreiner<br>
American Transparency<br>
P.O. Box 970999<br>
Boca Raton, FL 33497-0999
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>03/08/2024<br>
<br>
Records Access Officer<br>
<br>
Pursuant to the FOIA, this is a request for a copy of the
following records: An electronic file (ie Excel, PDF, Word) of
any and all Almont District Library employees including
part-time, temporary, seasonal employees and elected officials
for year of 2023 (fiscal or calendar year). Each employee
record should contain the year of compensation, first name,
middle initial, last name, hire date (mm-dd-yyyy), base salary
amount, bonus amount, overtime amount, gross annual wages and
position title.<br>
<br>
The principal purpose of this is to make this information more
accessible to the public and to access and disseminate
information regarding the health, safety, and welfare of the
general public. This request is not principally for personal
or commercial benefit. Our agency is just exercising the
general rights of the public. For these reasons, we are
requesting a waiver of fees. If there is a charge for this
service, please obtain my approval in writing prior to
proceeding with request.<br>
<br>
All documents can be e-mailed to <a
href="mailto:Michigan@OpenTheBooks.com"
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">Michigan@OpenTheBooks.com</a> or
mailed in electronic format (preferred format would be .csv or
.xls). If any documents are not provided in the format
specified, please provide the state or federal statutes relied
upon for that decision. If any record or portion of a record
responsive to this request is contained in a record or portion
of a record deemed unresponsive to the request, I would like
to inspect the entire document. Under the Open Records
Act/Freedom of Information Act, all non-exempt portions of any
partially-exempt documents must be disclosed. If any records
or portions of records are withheld, please state the
exemption on which you rely, the basis on which the exemption
is invoked, and the name of the individual responsible for the
decision.<br>
<br>
Thank you for your prompt consideration of my request. If you
have any questions, or if I can be of any assistance, please
e-mail me at <a href="mailto:Michigan@OpenTheBooks.com"
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">Michigan@OpenTheBooks.com</a>.<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
<br>
Christopher Schreiner<br>
American Transparency<br>
P.O. Box 970999<br>
Boca Raton, FL 33497-0999</div>
<br>
<br>
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