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The Lee County Hyacinth Control District (LCHCD) recognizes that it is important for our taxpayers to understand their rights to obtain public records. Florida Statute Chapter 119 definition of public records:
“Public records” means all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material, regardless of the physical form, characteristics, or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency.
Requests for public records do not need to be made in writing, nor do they need to be made in person.
To provide the record(s) requested, there may be a cost involved. Per Florida Statutes, the cost for paper copies of a document or report is $0.15 per page, one-sided: $0.20 per page, two-sided. While this may seem like a small amount to charge, some reports can be hundreds of pages long, which may result in a substantial charge. FS 119.07(3)(d) states:
If the nature or volume of public records requested to be inspected or copied pursuant to this subsection is such as to require extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance by personnel of the agency involved, or both, the agency may charge, in addition to the actual cost of duplication, a special service charge, which shall be reasonable and shall be based on the cost incurred for such extensive use of information technology resources or the labor cost of the personnel providing the service that is actually incurred by the agency or attributable to the agency for the clerical and supervisory assistance required, or both.
If the time to produce the public record requested will take longer than fifteen (15) minutes, LCHCD will charge for the staff time needed to do the work (the staff member’s hourly rate). If it is requested that the documents be reviewed at the District, the review must be done under the supervision of District staff. If the total time to review the documents takes longer than fifteen (15) minutes, the cost will be determined according to the hourly rate of the staff member supervising the review.
A public record must exist in order for it to be provided. Any public records, as defined by Florida Statute, will be provided upon request. The Lee County Hyacinth Control District will never refuse to provide information that is public record. Requests can be made to prr@lcmcd.org or by calling Eric Jackson or Jamie Fowler at (239) 694-2174.
Remember: Under Florida law, E-mail addresses are public record. If you do not want your E-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to the LCHCD. Instead, contact our office by phone or in writing.