Public corruption and backroom deals have plagued Mississippi for many moons. Fortunately, the people have a few tools such as the public records request to hold their leaders' feet to the fire. However, some local governments make it easier than others do to get public records. JJ graded each city and county in the Jackson metro area to see who makes it easy for people to get public records. Take a look as the results might surprise some people.
JJ issued a reduction of one letter grade for each of the following factors;
* inability to accept payments online
* inability to submit forms online or via email.
* Buried on the city website.
* Inability to complete forms online and forcing citizens to print them.
Jackson: A. Although deficient in other services, Jackson sets the standard for public records requests in the metro area. Citizens can file requests and pay any fees online. The entire public records system is paperless, making it very convenient for those filing such requests.
Madison County: B+. The county provides a form that is completed and submitted online, a truly paperless system. Madison County accepts email submissions as well. The only reason Madison County did not get an "A" is because it does not accept payments online.
Hinds County: B+. The county provides a form to be filled out and submitted online. No downloading or printing is required. Hinds County did not get an "A" because it does not accept payments online as does Jackson.
Rankin County: B+. All three counties follow the same process. An online form is provided so it can be completed and submitted online. Maximum convenience for the citizen. However, since none of them accept payments online, they did not receive "A's".
Ridgeland: B The city provides a public records request form in an pdf format that can be filled out and emailed to the city clerk. The email address is provided on the form. The public records request form can be found by selecting "forms" on the right side of the home page of the city website.
Pearl: B. A public records request form is available online in pdf format. One completes the form online, downloads it, then emails it to an address provided on the form as done in Ridgeland. To access the form, one must scroll down to the bottom of the website's home page and select "city departments," then select "City Clerk." The form appears on the City Clerk's page.
Byram: B. The city provides a public records request form in pdf format that can be completed online before downloading. The requests can be mailed or emailed to the City Clerk.
Brandon: C+ A form in pdf format is provided online. Although one can fill out the form online, one must print it out to sign it. It must be delivered or mailed to the city clerk. To access the form, one must select "city services" on the home page of the city website and then select "documents and forms."
Flowood: C. Flowood provides a form in pdf format online as well as an email address for submission. However, one must first print out the form, fill it out, and then scan into computer to submit via email. Ridgeland allows citizens to complete the pdf form online, save it, then email it. Flowood probably has the easiest access to the public records request form on the website. Just select "forms and applications" on the website's home page and presto, the reader is shown a list of available forms.
Richland: C. A form in pdf format is provided online but like Flowood, it must be printed out, completed, signed, and then submitted to the city. The form provides a mailing address but the City Clerk's email address is provided on the previous page where the form is listed. The availability of the email address saved Richland from getting a "D." To access the form, one selects "government" on the website's home page and then "City Clerk" in the drop-down menu. The clerk's email address is provided on that page. Requests can be emailed to the clerk provided on that page.
Clinton: D The city provides a public records request form in pdf format online but one must first print it out before completing the form. The form oddly enough only applies to the police department. The form must be mailed or delivered to the city as there is no email option mentioned on the city website. To access the form, one must first select the police department on the city website.
Madison:D. A pdf form is provided on the city website. However, it must be printed out and completed by hand. No mailing address or website is provided on the form. The form is found by selecting "departments" on the home page of the website and then "Finance & Administration" in the drop-down menu. The form is found under "Voter Registration & Records" on the next page.
Florence: D. The city provides a public records request form in Word format on its website. However, the form must be printed, completed, and submitted via mail or delivery. No mailing or email address is provided on the form.
Canton: F. The city provides no forms or other information online about public records requests.
Letter grade reduction for each factor:
* inability to accept payments online
* inability to receive requests online or via email.
* Buried on the city website
* Inability to complete forms online and forcing citizens to print them out.
The grades do not include the ability to provide records in a timely manner. For example, Madison rated a "D" but probably provides records more quickly than the others. Some such as Jackson take the full statutory deadline (and then some) of 14 business days despite receiving high marks for submitting such requests.
19 comments:
Kingfish, couple questions. First, how do you render payment when it is not accepted online? Second, in all the years you've been doing this, which entity has come the furthest from an improvement standpoint?
So what grade does our legislature get for access to public records considering that they exempt their own sorry asses from the law.
Slow day?
Madison's website is a joke and isn't kept up to date. Try to find a phone number for the director and asst. director of Parks & Recreation. There are none. The MONA page is years out of date. Etc, etc.
12:00 - What public records are you expecting from the Legislature that doesn't refer to what they're there for: Bills?
https://www.legislature.ms.gov/legislation/text-search/
Slow day or not, this was interesting. I'm interested in a reply to the latter question posed by the perceptive @11:11 AM.
Slow day??? This is actually the type of stuff I like to know about each county or city, how hard they make it to access information should be a telltale sign
You've just tipped off Lumumba about something that works well in the city of Jackson. This gives him time to wreck that too before he leaves office.
The City of Clinton does not require forms for almost all records request (99%). We require no payment. We do not fit the criteria of this survey because we will give you what you want, without a charge by e-mail, snail mail, or hand carry.
Why?
The media is going to do a story in some form. We want them to have the information as quickly as possible so that all sides are represented fairly. Unless a number of items are requested, our goal is to turn the request around by the next day.
Outside the press, almost every request we get concerns ordinances. In that case the requester is referred to the Community Development Director or our web page for their answer/research.
Thank you.
Finna file a PRR an get the FY 2023 and 2024 City of Jackson ACFR! Thanks for the info!
Guarantee you more than one of those towns/counties has paid a fortune to update their website multiple times over the last decade. Blind leading the blind.
I live in Jackson. Ditto 2:30. Chowke, don't even think about it.
You won't get them
You go pay with a check or cc. Some will take cash, some won't.
What do you think?
Emails and texts between those jerkwater jackasses....that's where the sausage is made. But we're not allowed to see it.
I found that departments can censor any record they choose, even from others in the same agency. Downloads are not dependable. Yes, it happened to me and of course there will be an 'explanation' dismissing it as a mistake. So take your chances with electronic public records. Depends on who has something to hide.
KF should teach this at universities.
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