Officials talk about public records

RITZVILLE – Adams County elected officials met in a forum, Nov. 3, to discuss budgeting for the upcoming year.

Commissioner Jay Weise asked elected officials to prepare short presentations ahead of the public budget hearing to go over their requests.

Public hearings have not yet been scheduled, but are expected to take place in early December.

Commissioner Dan Blankenship discussed the importance of handling public record requests.

“These are potential time bombs,” Blankenship said.

Prosecuting Attorney Randy Flyckt emphasized county departments have only five days to respond to a records request, either by providing the requested documents or an estimate of when those documents will be provided.

He went on to say some people make these requests hoping the county will make a mistake, and then file a law suit. Blankenship said

“Some people make a living doing this,” Blankenship said.

Sheriff Dale Wagner raised concerns about the amount of time his staff was spending in response to public records requests.

Weise noted the amount of time the commission clerk spends on these requests, and said the board was looking into the possibility of creating a position in the courthouse to deal with public records requests.

“We can’t afford not to” Weise said.