Barry County commissioners approve FOIA appeal seeking personnel documents related to former prosecutor
November 26, 2025 | Barry County, Michigan
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The Barry County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a Freedom of Information Act appeal filed by Megan Morrick seeking personnel records related to former prosecutor Chris Ellsworth.
Morrick told the board she requested the full personnel packet and a retention policy, saying follow‑up records produced to her stopped at 2011 despite Ellsworth’s roughly 18 years with the county. "All I'm asking for is full transparency," Morrick said.
Barry County Prosecutor Julianette Pratt told commissioners her office does not maintain comprehensive personnel files for prosecutors and said she had searched her office archives and found no separation or settlement agreements for Ellsworth. "I don't have anything," Pratt said, adding she would review a request to examine a prior denial in more depth. County administration explained there is no centralized county HR department; payroll and step‑increase records reside with administration but other personnel documents are kept by individual departments when created.
County attorneys recommended approving the appeal and issuing a written letter that incorporates the payroll documents already provided. The board moved (motion by Toonison, support by Hatfield) to approve the appeal for "all potential documents in the possession of the county," and the motion passed on a roll call vote. Administration said it will prepare the written response for the board chair to sign.
The board and attorneys emphasized that the production reflects what the county currently has on file: payroll step increases and related records held by administration, with no centralized personnel packets located in the prosecutor's office. The county will also provide the state retention policy it uses; Morrick had asked for any specific office retention rules so she could confirm whether documents had been removed under policy.
Next steps: the county will prepare the written appeal‑response letter with attachments of the payroll records already produced and will provide the retention policy information when available.
Morrick told the board she requested the full personnel packet and a retention policy, saying follow‑up records produced to her stopped at 2011 despite Ellsworth’s roughly 18 years with the county. "All I'm asking for is full transparency," Morrick said.
Barry County Prosecutor Julianette Pratt told commissioners her office does not maintain comprehensive personnel files for prosecutors and said she had searched her office archives and found no separation or settlement agreements for Ellsworth. "I don't have anything," Pratt said, adding she would review a request to examine a prior denial in more depth. County administration explained there is no centralized county HR department; payroll and step‑increase records reside with administration but other personnel documents are kept by individual departments when created.
County attorneys recommended approving the appeal and issuing a written letter that incorporates the payroll documents already provided. The board moved (motion by Toonison, support by Hatfield) to approve the appeal for "all potential documents in the possession of the county," and the motion passed on a roll call vote. Administration said it will prepare the written response for the board chair to sign.
The board and attorneys emphasized that the production reflects what the county currently has on file: payroll step increases and related records held by administration, with no centralized personnel packets located in the prosecutor's office. The county will also provide the state retention policy it uses; Morrick had asked for any specific office retention rules so she could confirm whether documents had been removed under policy.
Next steps: the county will prepare the written appeal‑response letter with attachments of the payroll records already produced and will provide the retention policy information when available.
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