Available Records

Most records maintained by public entities are open for inspection and/or copying by individuals.

The Kansas Open Records Act recognizes that some records contain information which is private in nature. For this reason, the Act lists a number of exceptions. Records which are closed for this reason may include:

• Personnel information of public employees
• Medical treatment records
• Records which are protected by the attorney-client privilege or the rules of evidence
• Records containing personal information compiled for Census purposes
• Notes and preliminary drafts
• Criminal investigation records
• Several other specific records

For a complete listing of exemptions, see K.S.A. 45-221.

Request for Open Records online form
Request for Open Records PDF form

How to Request a Record

Step 1
Check with the Freedom of Information Officer, the City Clerk, to determine whether the information that you need is available. Please remember to be courteous and specific when requesting information so that the records custodian will be able to serve you better.

Step 2
You may be asked to submit your request for information in writing. A printable Request for Open Public Records form is available for this purpose or you can fill out the Request for Open Public Records Form online. Make sure your request is as specific as possible so that your request may be filled quickly and completely. The records custodian may ask detailed questions in order to fulfill your request accurately.

Step 3
Most records will be produced within three business days from the time the request is received. If the request is denied, you will receive a written explanation for the delay or denial.

Step 4
If you have any questions about your request, contact the Freedom of Information Officer.

Fees

The Kansas Open Records Act authorizes public agencies to charge fees for providing access to or furnishing copies of public records. This fee may be requested in advance and may include:

• Cost of staff time required to make the information available.
• Cost of copying or reproducing the record.

Reasons a Request May Be Denied

Although every attempt will be made to provide the information requested, it is not always possible to fulfill the request. There are a number of reasons that a request may be denied:

• The specific record that was requested does not exist;
• The request was unclear and should be resubmitted with more detail;
• The record that was requested is closed to protect an important privacy interest (see the list of exceptions to the Kansas Open Records Act at K.S.A. 45-221).