A public records request for key emails between two DOWUS employees and a vendor was made on Tuesday, March 10 utilizing the city’s public records portal.
The Louisiana Public Records law allows for five (5) business days for responses to public records requests.
The five-day period for the March 10 public records request expired on Tuesday, March 17.
On Monday, March 23 an email was sent to the Shreveport CAO notifying him about the lack of response to the public records request enclosing a copy of that request.
Today is Thursday, March 26 and it is twelve (12) business days after the public records request was made.
At noon today a city official contacted this author about a delinquent SPAR response to a public records request. That official was advised of the delinquent DOWUS request.
Thankfully by 1:15 p.m. the delinquent DOWUS request was answered, albeit there are questions if the response is accurate.
When public records requests are not timely answered and no city official has made contact requesting a delay several thoughts come to mind:
Some city employees are not doing their job
Some city employees do not think the request is relevant
Some city employees do not think this author is relevant.
Some city employees have something to hide.
Readers of this column can draw their own conclusions.
At least one obvious conclusion is that Shreveport needs to upgrade its public records portal procedures.
Rather than chasing down the public records rabbit in the future, this author will likely file litigation which has been successful for him in the past.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.