Illinois Valley Times

FOIA Request to City of Ottawa regarding vendor payment registers on November 10, 2025.

The Illinois Valley Times has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the City of Ottawa seeking access to vendor payment registers. The request, sent on November 10, 2025, aims to obtain records covering the period from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025. The requested documents should include the names of vendors paid by the city, dates and amounts of payments, and descriptions or purposes of goods and services provided.

This request is made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), which allows for public access to government records. The Illinois Valley Times emphasizes that they are not asking for new documents to be created but rather for existing records that are already maintained by the city.

The Illinois Valley Times is a media organization dedicated to delivering comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs. Access to these public records is crucial for their role in holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. As a member of the media, they have requested a fee waiver due to their professional responsibilities in disseminating information.

Additionally, the requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization based in Missouri. This group supports media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this organization can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.

In Illinois, pet owners must have a license for certain pets like dogs and comply with state and local regulations as defined in the Illinois Animal Welfare Act. These licenses support animal control and health programs by ensuring pets receive proper vaccinations against diseases such as rabies.

We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.