Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
In compliance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Byron Forest Preserve District provides the following information to assist citizens who ask for access to records authorized under the Act.
The request for access to public records must be made in writing. A written request does not have to be made on a standard form, though the Byron Forest Preserve District does provide a Freedom of Information Form online or at the Forest Preserve’s Administration Office at the Jarrett Prairie Center located at 7993 North River Road, Byron IL 61010. You may submit your written request in person at the address listed below – or via mail, fax, or email.
Please submit your request to:
Michelle Gerke, FOIA Officer
Byron Forest Preserve District
7993 North River Road
P O Box 1075
Byron IL 61010
Fax: 815-234-8635
Email: michellegerke@byronforestpreserve.com
When submitting your written request, please be as specific as possible. The Freedom of Information Act is designed to allow you to receive and/or inspect copies of records. It is not designed to require a public body to answer questions.
When a written request for records has been submitted, the Forest Preserve must provide access to those records and/or copies of them within five (5) business days. Under certain circumstances, this time limit may be extended for five (5) more business days. Notice of this five day extension must be sent to the person requesting the records.
Please indicate if your request is for a commercial purpose. If so, the Forest Preserve must provide access to the records and/or copies of them within twenty-one (21) business days. (It is a violation of the Act for a person to knowingly obtain a public record for a commercial purpose without disclosing that it is for a commercial purpose.)
Please let us know if you would like a copy of the requested records or if you would like to examine the records in person (at the address listed above). There is no fee for up to 50 pages of standard paper copies. For more than 50 copies, there is a fee of .15 cents per page. You are permitted to ask for a waiver of copying fees. To do so, please include the following statement on your written request, “I request a waiver of all fees associated with this request.” You must include a specific explanation as to why your request for information merits a fee waiver.
Please include your full name, phone number(s), mailing address, and/or e-mail address with your request.
