Public Records

No. We do not waive costs incurred to produce records to any requestor for any reason to ensure that we treat all requests equally. We do, however, provide you the itemized, estimated actual cost in advance so you can determine whether you wish to proceed with your request. Your payment will be required in advance of the requested records being produced.

Yes. The city charges 10 cents per standard-sized copy as allowed by the Missouri Sunshine Law. The cost for oversized documents such as maps or drawings will be charged based on the City's actual cost to produce.

Yes. This is the preferable method since it does not require that we charge copying fees and we are able to provide the records much quicker and more efficiently. "Certified copies" can only be provided in hard copy format (*see below)

Records can be viewed without paying for copying. However, there may still be a charge for finding and collecting the records.

Records can only be viewed at the office of the City Clerk, 320 E. McCarty. All persons viewing records will be supervised. The City provides a counter and chairs for viewing records. Desk or table space may be available if requested in advance.

No, the Sunshine Law allows for verbal requests. However, persons are strongly encouraged to put requests in writing as experience has shown that doing so makes it more likely that the information you actually want will be found.

If you do, response to your request will be delayed since all Sunshine Requests are forwarded to the City Clerk by all departments for action per in accordance with City policy. The time frame for responding to the your request does not begin until the request has been received by the City Clerk's office.

No. The Sunshine Law states that the City must respond to your request within three days, not fulfill the request within three days. State law allows government bodies to inform the requestor if they cannot provide the records within the three-day response time frame by giving the requestor its reason, in writing, of the need for additional time, and give an estimated time when they will be able to produce the records.

No. Only existing records can be obtained. The City will not create reports or other new documents. Sunshine Law requests should not be framed in terms of questions, but rather ask for specific documents. Some records kept by the City are closed records under Missouri Law and not accessible to the public under the Sunshine Law. If the records are "closed" records, the City Clerk will notify the requestor of that fact within three days. NOTE: If the only person able to produce the requested records is unavailable at the time of the request, the time frame for producing the record does not begin until that person returns.

When you request your record, be sure to state you need either a *certified copy, or an affidavit form completed which you can provide with your request. The City Clerk will certify the records at no additional charge.

No. Once the records have left the possession of the City Clerk, they cannot be certified as "official" records. You will need to resubmit your records request and the records produced again before they can be certified.

No. The only "official" version of the City Code is maintained in the City Clerk's office. Certified copies for official purposes should be requested directly from the City Clerk. Certified copies will include a certificate containing the embossed City seal and original signature of the City Clerk or Deputy City Clerk. There is no additional charge to certify records.