A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City of Lasalle regarding residential and commercial building permits on October 30, 2024. The request was made by Illinois Valley Times, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our quest for transparency and accountability, we requested records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, specifically seeking information about all new residential and commercial building permits issued from January 1, 2023 till the date of the request. The desired fields included type of permit, date issued, fee paid, requester's name, address and contractor's name.
Furthermore, we also sought details about all active residential and commercial building permits along with their current status. Similar fields were requested for these active permits as well.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We await the City of Lasalle's response to this request as it will provide valuable insights into local governmental affairs.