Watershed Open Record Request

WHAT IS THE OPEN RECORDS ACT?

A STATE LAW WHICH REQUIRES ALL PUBLIC RECORDS TO BE OPEN FOR A PERSONAL INSPECTION BY ANY GEORGIA RESIDENT, AND NON-GEORGIA RESIDENT AT A REASONABLE TIME AND PLACE; AND THOSE IN CHARGE OF SUCH RECORDS SHALL NOT REFUSE THIS PRIVILEGE TO ANY RESIDENT. {O.C.G.A. §50-18-70(b)}  THE TERM “PUBLIC RECORD” SHALL MEAN ALL DOCUMENTS, PAPERS, LETTERS, MAPS, BOOKS, TAPES, PHOTOGRAPHS, COMPUTER-BASED OR COMPUTER-GENERATED INFORMATION, OR SIMILAR MATERIAL PREPARED AND MAINTAINED OR RECEIVED IN THE COURSE OF THE OPERATION OF A PUBLIC OFFICE OR AGENCY. {O.C.G.A. §50-18-70(a)}

THE ACT APPLIES TO EVERY STATE DEPARTMENT, AGENCY, BOARD, BUREAU, COMMISSION, PUBLIC CORPORATION, COUNTY, CITY, AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO STATE LAW, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT RECEIVES MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF THEIR FUNDS FROM A DIRECT ALLOCATION OF STATE FUNDS FROM THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF AN AGENCY.

THE COUNTY MAY CHARGE AND COLLECT A UNIFORM COPYING FEE NOT TO EXCEED $.10 PER PAGE (LETTER AND LEGAL SIZE DOCUMENTS); IN ADDITION, A REASONABLE CHARGE MAY BE COLLECTED FOR SEARCH, RETRIEVAL, AND OTHER DIRECT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR COMPLYING WITH THE REQUEST. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THE FIRST 15 MINUTES OF TIME SPENT ON A REQUEST.

 

OPEN RECORDS REQUEST GUIDELINES

• After Watershed Management receives a request for public records, the Department has (3) business days from the date of receipt to determine whether records in our custody are subject to disclosure and to respond to the individual who requested the records. Please note—although a response must be provided within (3) business days, it is not guaranteed that the records will be available within (3) business days as additional time may be required to produce the records.
• If records are exempt for disclosure, the individual will be notified within the required time frame. You will also be notified if there are no responsive records, within the required time frame.
• There is no obligation to create records, reports, summaries or compilations not already in existence at the time of the request.
• Individuals will be notified of costs involved to complete the request , if the estimated cost is more than $25. The department is not required to begin retrieving documents until the individual agrees to pay the estimated cost.
• If the estimated cost is over $500, the department is not required to begin retrieving documents until the individual has paid for the estimated costs.
• Watershed Management shall require an individual to prepay for all new requests, if there are outstanding costs from a prior request.

 

• Copying Fees:

 

Letter (8½ x 11) and Legal (8½ x 14) size, $.10 per page

Ledger (11 x 17) size, $1 per page

Plots/Maps (24 x 36), $5 per page

Compact Disc (CD), $2 each; DVDs, $3 each

 

• Administrative Fee:            The hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who is qualified to fulfill the request. There will be no charge for the first 15 minutes an employee works on a request.

 

TO SUBMIT AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST, PLEASE USE THIS LINK.