FOIA Request to Village of Manhattan regarding new contracts or amendments on February 1, 2026.
The Will County Gazette has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Village of Manhattan seeking access to records related to new contracts and any amendments to existing contracts that were executed, approved, or became effective during the immediately preceding calendar month. This request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.
The requested records include details such as contract or amendment titles, names of contracting parties, effective and approval dates, contract amounts or amended values, and descriptions of the goods or services covered. The purpose of this request is to gather information of public interest for dissemination to the public. The request specifies that it seeks only existing records and does not require the creation of new documents.
The Will County Gazette has emphasized its role as a media organization committed to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency. As such, they have requested a fee waiver based on their status as members of the media. They also highlighted their affiliation with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which aids media companies in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA requests.
We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.
