A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City of Zeigler on October 30, 2024. The request was made by North Egypt News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our quest for transparency and accountability, we at North Egypt News have requested records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Specifically, we are seeking information about all new residential and commercial building permits issued from January 1, 2023, until the present date. We have asked for specific details including the type of permit, date issued, fee paid, requester's name, address, and contractor's name.
Furthermore, we have also requested a list of all active residential and commercial building permits along with their current status. The same fields as mentioned above are required for these active permits as well.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We will continue to keep you updated as we await a response from the City of Zeigler regarding this FOIA request.