Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
What is FOIA?
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a state statute that provides the public the right to access government documents and records. FOIA is designed to ensure that the public has access to information about their government, making government operations, decision-making, and financial expenditures visible to the public. The City of Zion adheres to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1et seq.; Senate Bill 189, P.A. 096-0542), while, at the same time, protecting legitimate privacy interests, and maintaining administrative efficiency and operational priorities.
Requesting Public Records
All requests to inspect, copy, or certify public records must be submitted in writing and in the appropriate form (in-person delivery, mail, email). Please be as specific as possible when describing the documents that you are requesting. FOIA is not designed to require a public body to answer questions or interpret data. The City will respond to each written request to inspect or copy public records within five (5) business days after it is received, unless an extension of time is determined necessary. The first business day is the day after the City received the FOIA request. The City will respond to a written request made for commercial purposes within twenty-one (21) days after it is received.
Applicable fees for copies of public records must be paid prior to receiving the requested documents. There is no fee for up to the first 50 pages of standard paper copies. For more than 50 pages, there is a $0.15 charge per page. Larger than standard paper size copies are charged at the City’s reproduction cost. Copies will be provided in the medium requested by the requestor whenever possible.
Every public body must designate at least one person to act as the FOIA officer, and may have more than one FOIA officer.
Submitting a public records request
For requests for municipal documents not available on the website, please direct your requests to the following:
Requests can be mailed or emailed to the following:
Municipal Requests:
FOIA officer: Sheryl Spooner
Sheryl Spooner
Zion City Clerk
2828 Sheridan Road
Zion, IL 60099
Fire Requests:
FOIA officer: Tasha Obregon
Tasha Obregon
1303 27th Street
Zion, IL 60099
Police Requests:
The Zion Police Department has three Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) compliance officers. FOIA requests can be tendered in person at the records desk or emailed to Zionpdfoia@zion.il.us.
Police Pension Board Requests:
FOIA officer:
Kathy Richards
Zion Police Pension Board
2101 Salem Blvd.
Zion, IL 60099
zpdpension@zion.il.us