Agency contacted:  Macon Water Authority

Records that were requested: Master Engineering Services Agreement with Barge Design Solutions, Inc. for the Walnut and 7th Street Stormwater Improvements Design.

When did you first hear back? I first heard back from the agency after my first email, which I sent on Oct. 13. I received my first email back from them, on Oct. 14.

Did the agency request a fee? The agency indicated it would charge a $25 fee for the records. After indicating this fee, they did not provide a breakdown of the charge. 

Describe the response: The agency says, “for a complete breakdown of all applicable fees in accordance with your request, you will need to contact or visit the Macon Water Authority’s Engineering Department. The Engineering Department will supply this record and make the determination of all costs associated with the release of projects, specifications, and plan documents” says Lisa Golphin, the senior executive of strategic planning. The last response I got from them was about me having to pay the fee in person at the Macon Water Authority’s Engineering Department.

Assign a grade for contact/process: If I had to assign a grade for the contact and process I had, I would grade them an, D. They didn’t have their emails or numbers to reach out to any members of staff, and I instead had to find and fill out a general contact form that was just for customer service and not for the open records. 

Assign a grade for response:  If I had to assign them a grade for the response and explanation given, I would give the open records request a C. I never got the requested information. Instead, a fee was pushed onto me and I would have to go to the building in person to file the Request and pay the fee. 

Anything else to note? Lisa Golphin was very nice to work with  She answered within hours after I emailed her, but the agency did require an unexplained fee and required me to go in person to get the record.

See the full report card here.

Grading scale for agency’s ease of contacting agency staff and finding or filing for public records.

A: Agency uses an online portal or has a clearly defined process or contact on its website for requesting public records. An “A” agency may also provide the most commonly requested records on its website already such as agendas and meeting minutes.

B: Agency has some public information online such as meeting agendas or meeting times but additional information on how to request public information is not available.

C: Agency website has contact information for staff but nothing specific about how to request public information.

D: Agency has limited contact information on its website but it is not clearly labeled and/or easily accessible.

F: Agency contact information or how to get public records is not available on the website 

Grade scale for agency’s overall responsiveness and compliance with open records law

A: Provided records within the three-day window or less

B Acknowledgment of request within the three-day requirement but records were provided after three days.

C:  Acknowledged the request but then put forth a long timetable for response or requested a high fee or retrieval price for what should be a digital record and/or PDF that could be emailed.

D: Acknowledged the request but no further information or follow-up.

F:  No response