FOIA Request to Town of Forest City regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Town of Forest City by Old North News, seeking access to specific financial records. The request, sent on February 1, 2026, asks for the town’s vendor payment register for the immediately preceding calendar month. This includes details such as the names of vendors paid by the city, dates and amounts of payments, and descriptions of goods or services purchased.
The request emphasizes that it seeks existing records only and does not require the creation of new documents. Old North News has requested these records in electronic format if available. The purpose behind this request is to gather information of public interest for dissemination to the public, highlighting transparency and accountability within local government operations.
The email also notes that if any part of the request is denied or withheld, a specific statutory basis for denial should be provided along with all reasonably segregable portions of the records. Additionally, as a member of the media involved in reporting news to the public, Old North News has requested a fee waiver based on their role in holding public institutions accountable.
Old North News is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA requests. More information about this organization can be found at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
