Freedom of Information (FOIA) Request

All requests for information pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) must be made in writing and submitted in person or by mail, email or fax to the Town of Batesburg-Leesville. To ensure accuracy in the Town’s response, all requests should be as descriptive as possible and include name, address, telephone number, type of format to receive the request, and the requestors signature. All FOIA requests shall be addressed to the Town Clerk or his/her designee. In accordance with FOIA, the Town shall respond to a valid request within ten (10) work days (excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays), twenty (20) days for all records greater than twenty-four (24) months old. A written FOIA request is not required to obtain the following:

  • Minutes of the meetings of the pubic body for the preceding six (6) months;
  • All police reports for at least the fourteen (14) day period before the current day;
  • Documents identifying individuals confined in jail, detention center or prison for the preceding three (3) months; and
  • All documents produced by the public body or its agent that were distributed to or reviewed by a member of the public body during a public meeting for the preceding six (6) month period.

Individuals wishing to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request are asked to use the Town of Batesburg-Leesville FOIA Request Form, Batesburg-Leesville Police Department FOIA Request form (for police department requests only), or submit a letter.  All requests are to be signed. 

 

PR PG FOI main

 
 
 
 
 
 
Fees and Charges

The Town reserves the right to assess and collect reasonable fees not to exceed the actual cost of the research, retrieval, redaction, and reproduction of records. A deposit not to exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the total reasonably anticipated cost for reproduction of the requests shall be required prior to searching for or making copies of records. The full amount of the total cost must be paid at the time of the production of the request. FOIA request fees are as follows:

 

Item/Description

Basis

Fee

Copies

Per Page

$0.50

Oversized Copies

Per Page

Market Rate plus travel and staff time.

Tapes, CD’s, DVD’s, etc.

Per Each

$2.00

Police/Accident Reports

Per Each

$4.00

Research, Prep, Review

Per Hour

Lowest prevailing wage

Postage

Per Each

Current Rate

 

If the request is granted, the record(s) shall be furnished or made available for inspection or copying no later than thirty (30) calendar days from the date on which the final determination was provided. If a deposit is required, the record(s) shall be furnished or made available for inspection or copying no later than thirty (30) calendar days from the date on which the deposit is received. These deadlines expand to thirty-five (35) days for records that are more than twenty-four (24) months old. Production and response/determination timelines may be extended by written mutual consent. The requesting party may not unreasonably withhold such consent.

The Town’s failure to respond does not constitute automatic approval of a request.

S.C. law provides that it is a crime to knowingly obtain or use personal information from a public body for commercial solicitation.

 

MUNICIPAL CLERK
 
Judy Edwards
120 West Church Street
P.O. Box 2329
Batesburg-Leesville, SC 29006
(803) 532-4601
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