Editor’s Note: Sunshine Request makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.
Other (indicate in message) Submitted: March 10, 2023 | Updated: June 19, 2023
(March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.
Hello again Donna or City of Northwest, NC Government (Records Officer),
I'd like to make a public records request for the following information under NC Public Records Law.
Ref: https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_132.html
If such a record exists – Please provide the total amount of money spent by the City of Northwest, NC on each of the following types of purchases, during the specific time period of 01/01/2022 through 03/10/2023:
- City Computers and Laptops
- Purchase of Tractor(s)
- Purchase of Vehicle(s). This should also include the purchase of a new Ford SUV.
If possible, please break down each of these expense types by total amount per year (2022, and 2023).
If any / all of this info is already publicly available online, please provide a link to where it can be accessed.
** Please Note: I am simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I am NOT asking to come in person to inspect, nor to obtain a printed copy of, this electronic record. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via an electronic medium / format (in which the copy of this record should already exist). If you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law.**
——————
By Law I am not required to provide a name or address to associate with a public records request, but in order to move things along I’d like to clarify that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816
The request has been sent solely from the email address [email protected] . If anyone other than that email address contacts you to pursue a similar request, it did not come from our Team. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of our request – We intend to continue to pursue our request.
Please note that by submitting this request, I am NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it is not possible to process the request without incurring fees, then please let me know the itemized potential cost and explanations for those charges upfront, and DO NOT proceed until I can respond.
Thank you for your assistance!
Status: Completed
Documents:
Activity:
-
June 19, 2023 10:20 am
10 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: City Clerk <[email protected]>, James Knox <[email protected]>
date: Jun 19, 2023, 10:20 AM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Hi Donna,
Thanks for checking in.
Yes. I received your last email on Thu, Jun 15, 12:06 PM (4 days ago) that just said “Thank you.” with an attached PDF.
I received the file and have added it to our website. I have now marked the request as “Completed”.
Thank you for your help.
Status: Completed -
June 16, 2023 4:36 pm
10 months ago
from: City Clerk <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
date: Jun 16, 2023, 4:36 PM
subject: RE: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Did you receive the information concerning the request below?
Donna Strickland, CMC, NCCMC, NCCTC
City Clerk
910-470-4488 Cell
910-655-3110 ext. 1
Status: Clarification Requested -
June 15, 2023 12:06 pm
10 months ago
from: City Clerk <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
date: Jun 15, 2023, 12:06 PM
subject: RE: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Thank you.
Donna Strickland, CMC, NCCMC, NCCTC
City Clerk
910-470-4488 Cell
910-655-3110 ext. 1
**Editor’s Note: Please see the 1 referenced file (“Sunshine-Request-2023-Money-Spent-on-Computers-Laptops-Tractos-Vehicles-01.01.22-03.10.23.pdf”) at top left in our Documents section.
Status: Response Received from Government -
June 14, 2023 12:19 pm
10 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: City Clerk <[email protected]>
cc: James Knox <[email protected]>
date: Jun 14, 2023, 12:19 PM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Good afternoon Donna and Mayor,
Please reply promptly.
I’m following up once again regarding my March 2023 public records request. It was first submitted to your offices on Fri, Mar 10, 2:37 PM. You can see all communications about this request, to date, at the following URL: (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.
This request is very straightforward, and the records should have been fairly simple to produce. The most recent update I received was on May 4, 2023, 4:14 PM when Donna said: “I see that in the subject line this is the ref to March 2023 new records request. I will send that to you as soon as I can.” I have not heard anything else since then.
Please confirm that you are actively working to fulfill this request, and please provide an explanation for the delay. When can I expect that the records will be emailed to me?
This is my final attempt to follow up on this request. Having made all reasonable efforts to follow up since March 10 — if I do not receive a response this week, then I will mark the request as having been “Denied” by your organization. At that point I will consider my next steps, including raising the issue to your Town Council (and other entities), making them aware of this ongoing problem with the City’s records fulfillment process.
I want to highlight again the court case referenced in item #6 of the following article, posted on the NC Press Association website. In this instance: “The trial court held that an unjustified one-month delay in production of records was tantamount to a denial”. http://www.ncpress.com/stories/a-bakers-dozen-for-2022nc-public-records-law,2390
Please take immediate action to resolve this issue and ensure that ALL public records requests are being fulfilled by the City as required under the Law.
———–———–FYI. I have also been continuing to receive more new requests for information that will also need to be submitted to the City of Northwest. However, for the moment I am still holding off on submitting them, until there has been some resolution to the March 2023 request above.
Thank you.
~ Lauren (and the Sunshine Request Team)
Status: Follow up -
May 30, 2023 1:42 pm
10 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: City Clerk <[email protected]>
date: May 30, 2023, 1:42 PM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Hi Donna,
I’m following up with you specifically regarding my March 2023 public records request.
Ref: (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.The request called for …
” Please provide the total amount of money spent by the City of Northwest, NC on each of the following types of purchases, during the specific time period of 01/01/2022 through 03/10/2023:
– City Computers and Laptops
– Purchase of Tractor(s)
– Purchase of Vehicle(s). This should also include the purchase of a new Ford SUV.If possible, please break down each of these expense types by total amount per year (2022, and 2023).
If any / all of this info is already publicly available online, please provide a link to where it can be accessed.
** Please Note: I am simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I am NOT asking to come in person to inspect, nor to obtain a printed copy of, this electronic record. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via an electronic medium / format (in which the copy of this record should already exist). If you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law.** ”
——————
Putting aside all other emails we’ve exchanged in the thread above — The most recent status update I received about this specific March 2023 request was on May 4, 2023, 4:14 PM:
“I see that in the subject line this is the ref to March 2023 new records request. I will send that to you as soon as I can.”Please let me know the anticipated date for the completion of this request, and when it will be emailed to me.
Thank you!
~ Lauren (and the Sunshine Request Team)
Status: Follow up -
May 12, 2023 10:43 am
11 months ago
**05/12/23 Editor’s Note: The flash drive we’re referring to is actually related to a different records request we submitted to the City of Northwest, NC in November 2022. Found here: https://www.sunshinerequest.com/records_request/november-2022-request-for-city-of-northwest-nc-government-all-emails-sent-by-any-interim-appointed-acting-or-hired-police-chief-01-01-2022-present-day/
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: City Clerk <[email protected]>
date: May 12, 2023, 10:43 AM
subject: Re: Chief Rockenbach EmailsHi Donna,
Thanks for letting me know.
Yes, that is the correct mailing address.
To clarify for users on our site — you are referring specifically to the November 2022 records request I sent, found at the following URL:
(November 2022) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: All emails Sent by any interim, appointed, acting, or hired Police Chief. 01/01/2022 – present day.Fortunately, I haven’t gone to the PO Box yet this week to check for the flashdrive you already said was mailed.
——–I will go to the PO Box in 1 week from today to check whether it has arrived.
It would be helpful, however, if you can please share tracking information with me once it is available. This way I do not have to make multiple trips to the box to see if it arrived.
I’ve mentioned before that it is not convenient for me to travel and pick up the files at USPS, and the post office will return the flashdrive to your office if I do not collect it in a timely manner.
Thank you.
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Government Processing Request -
May 12, 2023 9:03 am
11 months ago
**05/12/23 Editor’s Note: The flash drive Donna has been referring to is actually related to a different records request we submitted to the City of Northwest, NC in November 2022. Found here: https://www.sunshinerequest.com/records_request/november-2022-request-for-city-of-northwest-nc-government-all-emails-sent-by-any-interim-appointed-acting-or-hired-police-chief-01-01-2022-present-day/
from: City Clerk <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
date: May 12, 2023, 9:03 AM
subject: Chief Rockenbach EmailsHi,
I have a flash drive I will be sending out to you today. It is with sincere apology that I tell you the flash drive was not mailed. It was located Wednesday in my office by the postage machine. This is the address I will be sending it to:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816Thank you,
Donna Strickland, CMC, NCCMC, NCCTC
City Clerk
910-470-4488 Cell
910-655-3110 ext. 1
Status: Government Processing Request -
May 12, 2023 8:58 am
11 months ago
from: City Clerk <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
date: May 12, 2023, 8:58 AM
subject: RE: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Ok.
Donna Strickland, CMC, NCCMC, NCCTC
City Clerk
910-470-4488 Cell
910-655-3110 ext. 1
Status: Response Received from Government -
May 5, 2023 1:40 pm
11 months ago
**05/05/23 Editor’s Note: The flash drive Donna is referring to is actually related to a November 2022 request we submitted to the City of Northwest, NC. Found here: https://www.sunshinerequest.com/records_request/november-2022-request-for-city-of-northwest-nc-government-all-emails-sent-by-any-interim-appointed-acting-or-hired-police-chief-01-01-2022-present-day/
However, the email thread Donna is now using to email us about the November request, is related to our March 2023 request above. “(March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.” Found here: https://www.sunshinerequest.com/records_request/march-2023-request-for-city-of-northwest-nc-government-money-spent-on-computers-laptops-tractors-vehicles-01-01-2022-03-10-2023/
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: City Clerk <[email protected]>
date: May 5, 2023, 1:40 PM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Hi Donna,
I have tried to be as explicit as possible about what request I’m talking about, every time I’ve been following up with you.
You can see all communications about the November 2022 request at the following URL:
You can see all communications about the March 2023 request (that’s the email thread we’re on now) at the following URL:
The main issue with these requests has not been just that you’re using the “wrong threads” to reply to me, which does make things more complicated than necessary. It’s that I’ve been getting no replies at all to any of my records requests or emails when I’ve been following up. And therefore, I have no other choice than to contact other people to try to get a response. There is no other contact info for anyone else at the City of Northwest on your website, besides yours and the Mayor’s email address and a general phone #. If you are not the appropriate person to send records requests to in the future, and they should be sent instead to the City Lawyer or someone else who processes these requests — please let know.
I sent the March 2023 request on March 10, and I did not receive any reply at all. I’ve spent almost 2 months following up to get a reply, and I’m just now learning that you’ve received the request and are going to process it. Moving forward, if my Team or I sends in a new records request in the future, please confirm receipt as soon as possible to acknowledge that it has been received. As a member of a very small team myself, I fully understand that you may have other work responsibilities in addition to processing records requests. However, Under NC Public Records Law, the City is required to process all records requests “promptly”. Requesters should not have to follow up numerous times or call your office just to get a response.
When a public records request is submitted, at the very least there needs to be some acknowledgement that it was received, and some indication provided of when it might be completed. As a practice I follow up on records requests once every 1 – 2 weeks, until I have either received a response, or there is a clear update about when the request will be completed.
I will try to go to the PO Box today or on Monday to look for the flashdrive related to the November 2022 request. I will not be able to review / process it until next week, however. But when I do, if I have any questions, or if I’m able to mark that request as “Completed” — I will email you about that on the email thread for the November 2022 request. I’ll let you know.
Thank you for your help.
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Follow up -
May 4, 2023 4:14 pm
11 months ago
**05/04/23 Editor’s Note: The flash drive Donna has been referring to is actually related to a different records request we submitted to the City of Northwest, NC in November 2022. Found here: https://www.sunshinerequest.com/records_request/november-2022-request-for-city-of-northwest-nc-government-all-emails-sent-by-any-interim-appointed-acting-or-hired-police-chief-01-01-2022-present-day/
from: City Clerk <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
date: May 4, 2023, 4:14 PM
subject: RE: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Please let me know when you get the flash drive.
Moving forward I will most definitely make sure to post on the correct “thread”.
Since you mentioned you posted everything on your webpage, are you able to share that?
I see that in the subject line this is the ref to March 2023 new records request. I will send that to you as soon as I can.
Sincerely,
Donna Strickland, CMC, NCCMC, NCCTC
City Clerk
910-470-4488 Cell
910-655-3110 ext. 1
Status: Clarification Provided -
May 4, 2023 1:54 pm
11 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: City Clerk <[email protected]>
date: May 4, 2023, 1:54 PM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Hi Donna,
I agree this process has been more complicated than it should be, and I hope the process for submitting future requests to your office will be streamlined. I will revisit any “recommendations” I have for how this process can be improved later, once I get some resolution to the two open requests.
Since there are now two completely different requests we’re talking about, and they were sent to you months apart, they should not be “combined”. I’m sure you can see that it becomes time consuming / confusing to spend weeks following up to get a reply to both requests, and then also having to use different email threads to talk about multiple requests at the same time. So I am asking you to please keep our future discussions about those two different requests separate. I post everything you say to me on our website, and our communications are specific to a particular request.
I sent you a records request in November. You’re still working on that I guess, and are saying there is a flash drive that perhaps has been mailed. I’ll go check on that this week. Hopefully it did not get returned to your office.
If you have any questions or additional information you need to share with me about that request specifically, please do so on the email thread in your inbox that has the subject line:
Re: Records Request: (November 2022) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: All emails Sent by any interim, appointed, acting, or hired Police Chief. 01/01/2022 – present day.Unrelated to that — on March 10, 2023 I sent you an entirely new and different records request. One person can send more than one records request to your office at a time, so it’s always important that you acknowledge you’ve received the request and provide some timeline for its completion. This way I do not have to continuously follow up. This is now the request we’re talking about — the email thread is called:
[New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.For simplicity I’m going to re-paste the original message for the March 10 request I sent you here:
——————–Hi Donna or City of Northwest, NC (Records Officer),
I’d like to make a public records request for information that may be available in your office. If you’re not the appropriate party to contact about the request, please provide the correct name and email address of whom I should send it to.
Please confirm receipt to let me know the request will begin processing, and if possible, please provide a rough estimate of when the request may be completed. I will plan on following up again at the end of the month if I have not heard back before then.
Here are the details of the request:
Subject:
(March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Message:
“Hello again Donna or City of Northwest, NC Government (Records Officer),I’d like to make a public records request for the following information under NC Public Records Law. Ref: https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_132.html
If such a record exists – Please provide the total amount of money spent by the City of Northwest, NC on each of the following types of purchases, during the specific time period of 01/01/2022 through 03/10/2023:
– City Computers and Laptops
– Purchase of Tractor(s)
– Purchase of Vehicle(s). This should also include the purchase of a new Ford SUV.If possible, please break down each of these expense types by total amount per year (2022, and 2023).
If any / all of this info is already publicly available online, please provide a link to where it can be accessed.
** Please Note: I am simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I am NOT asking to come in person to inspect, nor to obtain a printed copy of, this electronic record. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via an electronic medium / format (in which the copy of this record should already exist). If you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law.**
——————By Law I am not required to provide a name or address to associate with a public records request, but in order to move things along I’d like to clarify that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816The request has been sent solely from the email address [email protected] . If anyone other than that email address contacts you to pursue a similar request, it did not come from our Team. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of our request – We intend to continue to pursue our request.
Please note that by submitting this request, I am NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it is not possible to process the request without incurring fees, then please let me know the itemized potential cost and explanations for those charges upfront, and DO NOT proceed until I can respond.
Thank you for your assistance!”
Thank you!
** Sunshine Request (www.sunshinerequest.com) makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.
Status: Follow up -
May 4, 2023 10:53 am
11 months ago
from: City Clerk <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
date: May 4, 2023, 10:53 AM
subject: RE: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.This has become way to complicated. Whatever has made you feel like we are not working on your request, I apologize. I did not try to cause you any problems by not sending you a response on the wrong “thread”. I am the only full-time person in the administration of City Hall. I’m doing the best that I can.
I saw that you did not find our webpage helpful. What type of information would you like to see on our website. This would be helpful to us making our website useful.
I will send the March 2023 information as soon as I get a few minutes.
Hopefully, I sent you the right information on the correct thread. If not please let me know and I will copy and then paste the information to the other thread.
Sincerely,
Donna Strickland, CMC, NCCMC, NCCTC
City Clerk
910-470-4488 Cell
910-655-3110 ext. 1
Status: Government Processing Request -
May 3, 2023 5:26 pm
11 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: City Clerk <[email protected]>
date: May 3, 2023, 5:26 PM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Hi Donna,
As far as a flash drive is concerned — can you please clarify what specific records request you’re referring to?
Right now we are communicating on an email thread about a new March 2023 records request for “Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.”
——–
The “flash drive” you’re referring to should be related to a November 2022 request I sent you for “All emails Sent by any interim, appointed, acting, or hired Police Chief. 01/01/2022 – present day”. That is an entirely different request than the March 2023 request above.
There is a separate email thread for the November 2022 records request specifically. At no point have I ever been told that a flash drive was mailed. You said you were checking with IT, and I asked you repeatedly to let me know when it would be mailed so that it did not sit at the PO Box and get returned to your office. I did not receive a response, and you never told me that it was sent. If you’re now saying that it has finally been mailed (when was that?) I’ll go and check it out at the PO Box this week.
If you are talking about the November 2022 request specifically, then I’d ask that you please move any future conversations about this over to that request’s email thread — since, I have been following up with you there and it is an entirely different records request from the email thread above.
All information about where to mail flash drive etc. can be found there. I want to avoid any further confusion talking about two different records requests like they are the same thing. They are not.
——–
Related to the request above in March 2023. Can you please confirm that you’ve received this records request, and if it has begun being processed? I have never received any reply at all to confirm its receipt.
Thank you.
Status: Clarification Requested -
May 3, 2023 4:49 pm
11 months ago
from: City Clerk <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
date: May 3, 2023, 4:49 PM
subject: RE: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.You should have already received the flash drive. If you would like I can see if our IT can send it by email. He did not recommend that, but I can double check. If not I can mail another one to you certified with signature if that will help. Please send me the address so I can make sure I have the correct one.
I believe I saw where Connie sent you the contact numbers to Council. I can send you their email addresses if you want that as well. Sheila Grady, our Mayor Pro Tem is good at responding quickly.
Thank you,
Donna Strickland, CMC, NCCMC, NCCTC
City Clerk
910-470-4488 Cell
910-655-3110 ext. 1
Status: Clarification Provided -
April 28, 2023 2:34 pm
11 months ago
**04/28/23 Editor’s Note: The flash drive Donna is referring to is actually related to a different records request we submitted to the City of Northwest, NC in November 2022. Found here: https://www.sunshinerequest.com/records_request/november-2022-request-for-city-of-northwest-nc-government-all-emails-sent-by-any-interim-appointed-acting-or-hired-police-chief-01-01-2022-present-day/
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: City Clerk <[email protected]>
cc: Connie Marlowe <[email protected]>,
James Knox <[email protected]>
date: Apr 28, 2023, 2:34 PM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Hi Donna,
To clarify —
You are referring to the wrong request. The email chain you’re replying to right now, is one for is a different March 2023 request.The “flash drive” you’re referring to is related to a November 2022 request, and it is different than the one above.
There is a separate email thread for that November records request specifically. Please communicate about that request, on the appropriate email thread, and do not confuse these requests further.
At no point have I ever been told that a flash drive was mailed. I asked you repeatedly to let me know when it would be mailed. I did not receive a response.
Thank you.
Status: Follow up -
April 28, 2023 2:23 pm
11 months ago
**04/28/23 Editor’s Note: The flash drive Donna is referring to is actually related to a different request we submitted to the City of Northwest, NC November 2022. Found here: https://www.sunshinerequest.com/records_request/november-2022-request-for-city-of-northwest-nc-government-all-emails-sent-by-any-interim-appointed-acting-or-hired-police-chief-01-01-2022-present-day/
from: City Clerk <[email protected]>
to: Connie Marlowe <[email protected]>,
Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
cc: James Knox <[email protected]>
date: Apr 28, 2023, 2:23 PM
subject: RE: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.As you have been told, the City has responded to your request. A flash drive has been mailed. You may call me at either number below. You only need to contact the City of Northwest if you are requesting information from the City. You contact the County for anything to do with the County.
The number to our Mayor is 910-655-3110 ext. 3. Please contact him if you have any questions or complaints. His new email address is [email protected]
Donna Strickland, CMC, NCCMC, NCCTC
City Clerk
910-470-4488 Cell
910-655-3110 ext. 1
Status: Clarification Provided -
April 28, 2023 2:12 pm
11 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Connie Marlowe <[email protected]>
cc: Finance Clerk <[email protected]>, “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
date: Apr 28, 2023, 2:12 PM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Thank you Connie,
I appreciate your help.
I will remove you from the CCs moving forward.
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Clarification Provided -
April 28, 2023 2:06 pm
11 months ago
from: Connie Marlowe <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
date: Apr 28, 2023, 2:06 PM
subject: RE: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.James Knox, Mayor (910.515.9677)
Michael Troy, Councilman (910.297.4137)
Charles L. Carroll, Mayor Pro-Tem (910.655.2241)
Haywood Miller, Jr., Councilman (910.655.3745)
Sheila Grady, Councilwoman (910.655.9039) or (910.471.4172) or [email protected]
Santana Miller, Attorney (910.655-4101) or [email protected]
Respectfully,
Status: Clarification Provided -
April 28, 2023 12:05 pm
11 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Connie Marlowe <[email protected]>
cc: Finance Clerk <[email protected]>, “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
date: Apr 28, 2023, 12:05 PM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Hi Connie,
Thank you for your quick reply.
I do understand that this request was not specific to your office. However, since I continue to receive NO response Donna or the Mayor, and, as there is no other contact info available at all on the City’s website (besides their phone #) — I’d like to ask if you can please provide me with the email contacts for anyone else in a leadership role at the City of Northwest [Council Members, City Manager], as well as the Town’s Attorney. If you have that information.
I will consider my next steps from there.
Thank you for your help!
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Clarification Requested -
April 28, 2023 11:55 am
11 months ago
from: Connie Marlowe <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>, Finance Clerk <[email protected]>
cc: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
date: Apr 28, 2023, 11:55 AM
subject: RE: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Brunswick County is responsible for issuing building permits in the City of Northwest and the Planning Department is responsible for the planning and zoning. All other aspects of the Town’s affairs are handled through Town administration and/or their attorney.
Respectfully,
Status: Clarification Provided -
April 27, 2023 2:29 pm
11 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Finance Clerk <[email protected]>
cc: [email protected], Connie Marlowe <[email protected]>
date: Apr 27, 2023, 2:29 PM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Good Afternoon Donna, Mayor, (and Connie Marlowe with Brunswick County, NC now CCed again),
I am continuing to receive public records requests that I need to send in to your office. However, since I still haven’t been receiving any responses from either Donna or the Mayor, I’ve had to hold off on sending in new requests until I finally hear back from someone.
This is my 5th attempt to follow up with you regarding my public records request. First sent to your offices on March 10th, 2023.
REF: (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.To date, I have not received any response since sending in the request. I would appreciate it if Donna or someone else can please reply to this [and all other] emails she has been sent regarding specific records requests.
———Additionally, given all my previous experiences trying to make requests to your office, I remain concerned that the City of Northwest may be intentionally delaying fulfillment of requests by allowing them to “sit” until staff has availability or feels like addressing. Under NC Public Records Law, the City is required to “promptly” process all valid public records requests. Requesters should not be required to send numerous emails / follow ups in order to get a reply, or even no reply at all.
With this in mind, I want to highlight the court case referenced in item #6 of the following article, posted on the NC Press Association website. In this instance: “The trial court held that an unjustified one-month delay in production of records was tantamount to a denial”. http://www.ncpress.com/stories/a-bakers-dozen-for-2022nc-public-records-law,2390
I respectfully ask that legal staff take immediate action to resolve this issue and ensure that ALL public records requests are being fulfilled by the City as required under NC Public Records Law.
This is my final attempt to follow up on this request. Having made all reasonable efforts to follow up since March 10 — if I do not receive a response in a week then I will mark this request as having been “Denied” by your organization. And at that point I will consider how this issue can be raised to your City Council so they are made aware of how records requests are being processed.
Thank you.
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Follow up -
April 18, 2023 4:49 pm
1 year ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Finance Clerk <[email protected]>
cc: [email protected]
date: Apr 18, 2023, 4:49 PM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Good Afternoon Donna (and Mayor CCed),
I hope you are doing well, and have been having a good month so far.
This is my 4th, and final, attempt to follow up with you regarding my public records request. First sent to your offices on March 10th, 2023.
REF: (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.To date, I have not received any response since sending in the request.
I’d like to ask again that you please confirm receipt to let me know the request will begin processing. And, please provide an anticipated date for its completion.
If I do not hear anything in 1 week, I will try to call your office to follow up — and at that point will mark the request as having been “Denied” by your organization.
——-I’d also like to express, again, my concerns with this records request process. Requesters should not be required to send numerous emails / follow ups in order to get a reply. Please ensure that City of Northwest, NC is processing public records requests in a timely manner, and in accordance with NC Public Records Law: https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_132.html
Thank you!
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Follow up -
April 7, 2023 1:17 pm
1 year ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Finance Clerk <[email protected]>
cc: [email protected]
date: Apr 7, 2023, 1:17 PM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Hi Donna (and Mayor CCed),
This is my 3rd attempt to follow up on my public records request. First sent to your offices on March 10th, 2023:
As of this writing, I have not received any response.
Please confirm receipt to let me know the request will begin processing. And if possible, please provide an anticipated date for its completion.
I will follow up again (or call your office) in 1 week, if I have not heard anything else before then.
Thank you!
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Follow up -
March 24, 2023 11:03 am
1 year ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Finance Clerk <[email protected]>
cc: [email protected]
date: Mar 24, 2023, 11:03 AM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Good afternoon Donna (and Mayor CCed),
Happy Friday!
This is my second attempt to follow up on my public records request, sent to your offices on 03/10/23:
(March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.I have not received any response as of this writing.
Can you please confirm receipt to let me know the request will begin processing? And if possible, please provide an anticipated date or timeline for its completion.
I will follow up again in 1 week, if I have not heard anything else before then.
Thank you for your help!
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Follow up -
March 17, 2023 2:13 pm
1 year ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Finance Clerk <[email protected]>
cc: [email protected]
date: Mar 17, 2023, 2:13 PM
subject: Re: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023Good afternoon Donna (and Mayor CCed),
I’m following up on the following public records request, sent to your offices on 03/10/23:
(March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.I have not received a response.
Please confirm receipt to let me know the request will begin processing. And if possible, please provide an anticipated date or timeline for its completion.
I will follow up again in 1 week, if I have not heard anything else before then.
Thank you for your help!
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Follow up -
March 10, 2023 2:37 pm
1 year ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Finance Clerk <[email protected]>
date: Mar 10, 2023, 2:37 PM
subject: [New Records Request] (March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.Hi Donna or City of Northwest, NC (Records Officer),
I’d like to make a public records request for information that may be available in your office. If you’re not the appropriate party to contact about the request, please provide the correct name and email address of whom I should send it to.
Please confirm receipt to let me know the request will begin processing, and if possible, please provide a rough estimate of when the request may be completed. I will plan on following up again at the end of the month if I have not heard back before then.
Here are the details of the request:
Subject:
(March 2023) Request for City of Northwest, NC Government: Money spent on Computers, Laptops, Tractor(s), Vehicle(s). 01/01/2022 – 03/10/2023.
Message:
“Hello again Donna or City of Northwest, NC Government (Records Officer),
I’d like to make a public records request for the following information under NC Public Records Law. Ref: https://www.ncleg.net/
enactedlegislation/statutes/ html/bychapter/chapter_132. html If such a record exists – Please provide the total amount of money spent by the City of Northwest, NC on each of the following types of purchases, during the specific time period of 01/01/2022 through 03/10/2023:
– City Computers and Laptops
– Purchase of Tractor(s)
– Purchase of Vehicle(s). This should also include the purchase of a new Ford SUV.If possible, please break down each of these expense types by total amount per year (2022, and 2023).
If any / all of this info is already publicly available online, please provide a link to where it can be accessed.
** Please Note: I am simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I am NOT asking to come in person to inspect, nor to obtain a printed copy of, this electronic record. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via an electronic medium / format (in which the copy of this record should already exist). If you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law.**
——————
By Law I am not required to provide a name or address to associate with a public records request, but in order to move things along I’d like to clarify that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816The request has been sent solely from the email address [email protected] . If anyone other than that email address contacts you to pursue a similar request, it did not come from our Team. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of our request – We intend to continue to pursue our request.
Please note that by submitting this request, I am NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it is not possible to process the request without incurring fees, then please let me know the itemized potential cost and explanations for those charges upfront, and DO NOT proceed until I can respond.
Thank you for your assistance!”
Thank you!
** Sunshine Request (www.sunshinerequest.com) makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.
Status: Sent to Government -
March 10, 2023 2:32 pm
1 year ago
Submitted to Sunshine Request
Status: Pending