The Henry County Board of Supervisors is working to develop a formal policy regarding fees for Freedom of Information Act requests.
During Tuesday’s meeting, supervisors discussed creating a consistent process for handling requests that require staff time to search for records. County officials said they have reached out to other counties and consulted with Steven Giebelhausen from the Henry County Attorney’s Office for guidance while developing the policy.
Supervisors discussed the possibility of charging for staff time spent fulfilling information requests. One option being considered would bill by the hour and vary by department based on employee wages. For example, the Henry County Auditor’s Office rate would be approximately $42 per hour, while other offices could be closer to $45 per hour.
Board members said the goal is to create a fair and consistent system when requests require significant staff time. Supervisors expect to review a final draft of the policy and take a vote at next week’s meeting.
In other business, Gunner Sloan reported that interviews were conducted last week for an IT Technician position within the county’s IT department. The position has since been offered to a candidate following those interviews.