BOC Advised of FOIA Overuse, Abuse

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – During the July 15 meeting of the Clare County Board of Commissioners, Administrator Lori Phelps focused her report on specific areas of concern. In doing so, Phelps addressed her comments to the chairman, commissioners and members of the public, as follows:

“I'd like to take just a few minutes today to talk about transparency, public service, and the importance of having all of the facts before drawing conclusions.

“Over the past several months, we've received a number of FOIA requests on a variety of topics. I want to be very clear – I support the Freedom of Information Act. It is an important tool that promotes open government and accountability. Every citizen has the right to request public records, and Clare County takes that responsibility seriously.

”Beginning this month, I will be providing the Board with a summary of the FOIA requests we receive so you can see the volume of requests, the amount of staff time involved in gathering records, reviewing documents, and responding, and ultimately the cost to the taxpayers. Transparency is important, but transparency also comes with a cost, and I believe it's appropriate that the Board and the public understand both sides of that equation.

“What concerns me is not the FOIA requests themselves. What concerns me is when only portions of the information are shared publicly, without the context necessary for people to understand the full story.

“A recent example involves the County's inmate prescription services. Documents were obtained through a FOIA request and then presented publicly in a way that suggests wrongdoing or a conflict of interest. Unfortunately, what was not included was the rest of the story.

“Clare County has done business with Harrison Family Pharmacy for many years – not because of who owns it, but because they provide a service that meets the needs of our jail and our inmates. The Michigan Department of Corrections requires inmate medications to be bubble packaged for safety, accountability, and proper dispensing. Not every pharmacy offers that service, and those that do often charge significantly more.

“Each year, we compare pricing and evaluate available vendors. Harrison Family Pharmacy has consistently provided competitive pricing while meeting the specialized packaging requirements. In all cases, the County is also reimbursed for inmate medications by other counties or by the United States Marshals Service when we house inmates on their behalf.

“Those facts matter. They are part of the complete picture.

“I also want to say something about the people who work for Clare County.

“I have the privilege of working alongside dedicated employees and elected officials every day. We don't always agree on every issue, and that's healthy. Different viewpoints make for better decisions. But I firmly believe that the people who serve this county do so because they genuinely care about this community.

“None of us took these positions to become wealthy or to advance a personal agenda. We serve because we love Clare County. We want our children and grandchildren to have a strong, safe, and financially responsible community. We want to make decisions that improve the place we all call home.

“One principle I try to live by is to presume positive intent. I believe that most people come to the table wanting to do the right thing, even when they disagree on how to accomplish it. That includes this Board, our department heads, our employees, and our residents.

“Public accountability is essential. It makes government stronger. But accountability should be based on complete information, not partial information. It should encourage understanding, not division. It should seek the truth, not simply create headlines or social media posts.

“I remain committed to being transparent, to answering questions, to complying with every FOIA request, and to providing accurate information to anyone who asks. That commitment will not change.

“My hope is that, as a community, we can continue to have respectful conversations, even when we disagree, and remember that we are all working toward the same goal – a better Clare County.

“Thank you.”