FOIA Request to City of Decatur Regarding Building Permits on October 30, 2024.
In a recent move towards increased transparency in local government affairs, we at Macon Reporter have sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the City of Decatur. The request, dated October 30, 2024, seeks comprehensive details about all new residential and commercial building permits issued from January 1, 2023 till the present date.
The requested information includes the type of permit, date issued, fee paid, requester's name, address where the permit is applicable and the contractor's name. This information is vital for our ongoing coverage of local government operations and development projects within the city.
In addition to this, we have also requested for a list of all active residential and commercial building permits along with their current status. This will provide us with an overview of ongoing construction projects in the city and help us keep our readers informed about development trends in their neighborhoods.
As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We await a response from the City of Decatur and will continue our efforts towards ensuring transparency in local governance.