A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City Of Harvard on October 28, 2024, by us at McHenry Times. The request was made for records pertaining to all currently unpaid parking violations within the city’s jurisdiction.
In our pursuit of transparency and accountability in local government affairs, we sought specific details related to these violations. This includes the name of the offender, their address, the amount due for each violation, the date of the violation, and the total amount due overall.
As a media organization committed to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. We believe that holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public are fundamental aspects of our work.
We requested these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in an electronic format for ease of access and dissemination. As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we also put forth a request for a fee waiver as media professionals.
We will continue our efforts in bringing light to important issues within our community and keeping our readers informed about matters that directly affect them.
