Dewey overturns fee hike for public documents

Dewey commissioners voted 3-2 April 13 to charge 10 cents per page for documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act.

The FOIA fee reappeared after commissioners learned in February that a January vote to standardize and lower copying fees for public documents from $1 to 25 cents a page inadvertently hiked fees for FOIA requests 150 percent.

Commissioner David Moskowitz said when commissioners voted in January to set copying fees at 25 cents a page, they were told it did not apply to FOIA requests. “That’s why it passed,” he said.

Commissioner Gary Persinger said he supported changing the fee back to 10 cents a page after the first free 20 pages. “If we really are worried about the number of FOIA complaints, then we need to do a better job of being open and transparent and sharing materials,” Persinger said.

The motion, approved by Commissioners Dale Cooke, Gary Persinger and David Moskowitz, was opposed by Mayor TJ Redefer and Commissioner Paul Bauer.

Redefer said he favored keeping the fee at 25 cents after the first 20 pages. Bauer also supported keeping the fee at 25 cents. He said the town has responded to more than 60 FOIA requests the past year.

Town Manager Scott Koenig said the town must respond to every FOIA request and would never break even on costs no matter the fee.