Request for Public Records

Please complete a Public Records Request Form and return it to City Hall, 122 Broadway Street, West Burlington, IA  52655

Chapter 22 of the Iowa Code, Examination of Public Records (Open Records), was enacted to permit the citizens of Iowa broad and easy access to public documents. The citizens of Iowa have the right to obtain information relating to their government and to more fully participate in the government process. Iowa Code defines public records as:

. . . all records, documents, tape, or other information, stored or preserved in any medium, of or belonging to this state or any county, city, township, school corporation, political subdivision, nonprofit corporation other than a fair conducting a fair event as provided in chapter 174, whose facilities or indebtedness are supported in whole or in part with property tax revenue and which is licensed to conduct pari-mutuel wagering pursuant to chapter 99D, or tax-supported district in this state, or any branch, department, board, bureau, commission, council, or committee of any of the foregoing.

. . .all records relating to the investment of public funds including but not limited to investment policies, instructions, trading orders, or contracts, whether in the custody of the public body responsible for the public funds or a fiduciary or other third parties.

Iowa Code 22.1(3)(a) and (b)

However, certain types of documents are specifically excluded from disclosure, and therefore, from public access. These exceptions can be found in Iowa Code 22.7.

Availability of a Public Record

Open records will be available to the public during customary office hours, which are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except designated holidays). Immediate access to records may be affected by a good faith effort to: verify the scope of the record’s request, locate the specific records requested and determine whether any of the records or information contained within, is confidential in nature. The City of West Burlington will make every effort to provide the public with access to public records in a prompt and efficient manner. If the City of West Burlington discovers that circumstances will prolong a timely response, the office will notify the requestor at once and make alternate arrangements to provide the response in a manner that is satisfactory to the requestor.

Confidential records may be withheld, and confidential information within an otherwise open record may be redacted, prior to a record’s release for public examination and copying. If a confidential record is withheld from examination and copying, or confidential information within an otherwise open record is redacted, the City of West Burlington will identify the document(s) and cite the applicable provision of law, which supports the decision to withhold the confidential information from public examination.

Requests for a Public Record

The city of West Burlington will fulfill requests for a copy of a public record received in writing, by telephone, or in person. A written request will assist in ensuring the City of West Burlington’s accuracy in responding to the request. The request must reasonably describe the records requested so that they can be identified, located, and retrieved by City of West Burlington staff. Persons who submit a written request for public records should also provide a contact name, address, and telephone number in order to facilitate effective communication with the City of West Burlington regarding the request.

Public records may be viewed (inspected) in the City Clerk’s office, 122 Broadway Street, West Burlington, Iowa 52655. The person inspecting the records shall not damage, disorganize or remove any such records from the City of West Burlington. The City of West Burlington reserves the right to have its staff present during the inspection. There is no charge to inspect records.

CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS:

The persons holding the following positions are hereby delegated with the responsibility for implementing the requirements of Chapter 22 with respect to records maintained in their respective departments and divisions:

• Kelly Fry, City Clerk – City Hall
• Finance Officer – City Hall  (includes Payroll and Accounts Payable requests)
• Lynch-Dallas P.C. - Attorney's Office
• Mark Crooks, Building Inspection
• Jesse Logan, Police Chief - Police Department