(October 2023) Request for Town of Columbus, NC Government: Emails to and from Attorney, Manager, Mayor, Council, and Clerk, from 08/03/23 – 10/11/23. Council Code of Ethics. And Council Meeting agendas, addenda, minutes, from 08/03/23 – 10/11/23.

Activity:

• November 17, 2023 11:03 am

  2 weeks ago

  **11/17/23 Editor’s Note: We called Daisy this morning to check on the status of this request. They’re still working on it, and compiling all the different files. We will continue to follow up in the next two weeks. Thank you for using Sunshine Request!

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  Status: Government Processing Request
• November 6, 2023 5:40 pm

  3 weeks ago

  from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  to: [email protected]
  cc: [email protected], [email protected]
  date: Nov 6, 2023, 5:40 PM
  subject: Re: Public records request. (October 2023) Request for Town of Columbus, NC Government: Emails to and from Attorney, Manager, Mayor, Council, and Clerk, from 08/03/23 – 10/11/23. Council Code of Ethics. And Council Meeting agendas, addenda, minutes, from

   

  Excellent — Thank you Daisy!

   

  I’ll follow up with you again in a couple of weeks, if I don’t hear anything else before then.

   

  Have a good evening!

   

  ~ The Sunshine Request Team

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  Status: Government Processing Request
• November 3, 2023 10:34 am

  1 month ago

  from: [email protected]
  to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  cc: [email protected], [email protected]
  date: Nov 3, 2023, 10:34 AM
  subject: RE: Public records request. (October 2023) Request for Town of Columbus, NC Government: Emails to and from Attorney, Manager, Mayor, Council, and Clerk, from 08/03/23 – 10/11/23. Council Code of Ethics. And Council Meeting agendas, addenda, minutes, from

   

  Good Morning,

   

  We have received your request and we are compiling the information. Thank you and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

   

   

  Kind Regards,

  Daisy Trejo

  Town Of Columbus

  Town Clerk

  828-894-8236 EXT: 1002

  [email protected]

   

  Correspondence to and from this E-mail address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law (NCGS Chapter 132) and may be disclosed to third parties.

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  Status: Government Processing Request
• October 26, 2023 5:52 pm

  1 month ago

  from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  to: [email protected]
  cc: [email protected], [email protected]
  date: Oct 26, 2023, 5:52 PM
  subject: Public records request. (October 2023) Request for Town of Columbus, NC Government: Emails to and from Attorney, Manager, Mayor, Council, and Clerk, from 08/03/23 – 10/11/23. Council Code of Ethics. And Council Meeting agendas, addenda, minutes, from 08/03/23 – 10/11/23.

   

  Good evening Daisy (or Town of Columbus Records Officer / Custodians of the records),

   

  Please reply promptly to the following multi-part public records request, which is being made in accordance with NC Public Records Law (N.C. Gen. Stat. §132-1 through §132-11). https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_132.html

   

  ** I’m simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I’m NOT asking for the opportunity 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 the electronic medium / electronic format (in which the copy of this record should already exist). I do not have any further clarifying info I wish to provide to narrow this request. If the request is unclear, or 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.**

   

  A. Please provide all emails sent to and sent from the following individuals, during the time period of 08/03/2023 through 10/11/2023:

   

  Town Attorney: Lora Baker
  Town Manager: Timothy Barth
  Mayor: Patrick McCool
  Council Members: Richard Hall , Mark Phillips , Brent Jackson , Becky Kennedy
  Town Clerk: Daisy Trejo

   

  This should include any documents, records, or correspondence that pertain to “public business” as defined by the NC Public Records Act (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1) and as interpreted by the NC Judiciary Branch. This includes, but is not limited to, discussions, decisions, and activities related to town governance, official duties, or matters affecting the public interest.

   

  B. Please provide a copy of the town’s Ethics Code or Oath that the Town Council members agree to uphold, as required by North Carolina State Law.

   

  C. Please provide copies of the final versions of all Town Council Meeting agendas, including any addenda, changes, updates, and the like for meetings held from 08/03/2023 through 10/11/2023, along with any associated documents, minutes, or records, including documents and communications relating to decisions and actions stemming from those meetings.

   

  I believe that NC Public Records Law broadly defines “public records” to include materials created or received by a government agency while conducting public business. I also believe that personal email accounts used for conducting public government business fall within the purview of the NC Public Records Law. Therefore, I kindly request that any such communications be included within the scope of the requests above.

   

  To facilitate the process, it would be ideal if the requested info could be provided in either Microsoft Word .docx or PDF format. However, it is not 100% necessary. I will happily receive the responsive records in their native format, as this is likely the easiest for you to compile. Emails are already available in their electronic medium, and can be emailed to me, or sent via Google drive link, dropbox, flash drive (if necessary) or another electronic medium.

   

  If any of the requested info is already available online, please provide the relevant URLs where it can be accessed.
  ————————————

   

  Please note that by submitting this request, I’m NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it isn’t 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 respond.

   

  By Law I’m 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 me or my Team. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of my request – I intend to continue to pursue my request.

   

  Thank you for your assistance!

   

  ** 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.

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  Status: Sent to Government
• October 26, 2023 5:49 pm

  1 month ago

  Submitted to Sunshine Request

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  Status: Pending