Recently I shared this Freedom of Information Request(FOIA) with my friends at the Boone County Journal. While it was not my intent for it to be published I think it can be a learning experience for all of us.
The county response is shown below my letter to the editor. Basically they said that the county is not selling the land currently, and supplied details of their marketing of the property in 2009.
I wonder if the county actually posted a request for bids before they rented this land for crops for 2011? Would that not also be prudent? Is that required by law? Of course it might take another FOIA to determine that.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I recently viewed your March 16, 2011 Board meeting
on Comcast. Board discussion regarding the renting of
county owned crop lands indicated that some or all of the
68.5 acres is currently being marketed by the county for a
possible sale. I have viewed the County’s website and find
no indication that any county property is for sale and I am
unaware of any recent advertisement in local newspapers.
If you are currently marketing this property the public
has a right to know what marketing actions are currently
taking place. If the county is not, that also should be clearly
stated to the public.
I recall some months ago bids were requested for a portion
of these lands however only one bid was apparently
received and that was not accepted. (Please correct me if I
am correct.)
Therefore under the Freedom of Information Act please
provide all of the following information:
1. Please provide any marketing contract which the
county entered regarding the sale or marketing for the sale
of the croplands. Contracts with real estate agents, brokers,
farm land brokers or advertisers.
2. If the county or its agent advertised the property for
sale or bid in the last four months, please provide the details
of the advertising. The approximate date of publication and
the name and location of the publication.
3. If the property is being advertised on any free or
government website/ publication, please supply the necessary
information to locate those ads.
4. If any party, board member, or employee has been
granted the permission to solicit bids/offers for the property,
please provide the name(s) and the board action which authorized
that action.
Please provide the above requested information within
five working days as required by the Illinois Freedom of
Information Act.
Please feel free to submit your reply electronically.
WILLIAM J. PYSSON, Belvidere, Il 61008
Click on the photocopies to enlarge:
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