Freedom of Information Act
The Perry County Clerk’s Office is committed to providing transparency in government and operates under the guidelines established in the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
For additional information about the Freedom of Information Act, your rights and limitations, please visit the Illinois Attorney General’s FOIA page.
The County Clerk’s office retains the following types of information: vital records, elections, recording and general County administration. You may view the pages on this site to learn more about many of the types of information on file in this office. In addition, the County Clerk’s office is also the custodian of most County Board records, including ordinances, resolutions, contracts and accounts payable.
Please note that certain records filed in the County Clerk’s office containing personal information, such as birth and death certificates, military discharge records and voter registration information are not available to the general public and can only be distributed to those individuals or groups specifically entitled by law to obtain them.
If you wish to file a FOIA request, please be certain your request is directed to the appropriate office or agency that has the records you are seeking. If your request for information involves another County department or agency, it is most likely that office houses the records to fulfill your request. If you are unsure of where to find the information you need, please contact the Perry County FOIA Officer. They will attempt to assist you in your search.
In order to view the FOIA request form, you will need the latest version of Adobe® Acrobat® Reader.
FOIA Officer(s)
| Department | Contact |
| Perry County FOIA Officer | Marty Beltz – FOIA@perryil.com |
Please Note: All requests for information under the FOIA law should be submitted in writing. Use of this form is NOT required, but may help us in understanding and processing your request. Please use the contact page to request information or submit a form.
Response Time On FOIA Requests
All written requests shall be responded to within five (5) working days (5 ILCS/140/3) following the date the request is received, except in the instance when the request is for commercial purposes. (Within 21 working days of receiving a request for commercial purposes Perry County will: (1) provide a reasonable estimate of time needed to comply with the request along with an estimate of the fees which the requestor will be charged; (2) deny the request pursuant to a statutory exemption; (3) notify the requestor if the request is unduly burdensome and allow the requestor to revise the request to manageable proportions; or (4) provide the requested records. .) The five (5) day count begins the day after the receipt of the FOIA request by the Department Head, or designee. The requester may be notified of a five (5) day extension (working days) if the files are voluminous, at different locations, or if other reasons make it impossible to assemble and mail the request out within the normal five (5) day period.
Denial of FOIA Requests
All county employees are encouraged to provide available information when requested by the public. Information provided or denied under the FOIA, however, must conform to the legal requirements under the Act. Certain documents may be exempt from disclosure pursuant to specific sections in the Freedom of Information Act (5ILCS 140/3(g);7;7.5).
When a public body denies a request for public records, that body must, within five (5) working days, or within any extended compliance period provided for in the Act, notify the person who made the request, by letter, of the decision to deny the request. The letter must explain the reasons for the denial, and give the names and titles of all persons responsible for the denial.
Appeal of Denial of FOIA Requests
Any person denied access to inspect or copy any public record for any reason may appeal the denial by sending a written notice of appeal to the Public Access Counselor at the following address:
Public Access Counselor
Office of the Attorney General
500 S. 2nd Street
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Phone: 1-877-299-FOIA (1-877-299-3642)
Fax: 217-782-1396
E-mail: publicaccess@atg.state.il.us
You also have the right to seek judicial review for your denial by filing a law suit in the State circuit court (5 ILCS 140/11).
Resources
For additional information regarding the Freedom of Information Act, please visit the Illinois Attorney General’s website.