Commissioners debate public-records costs as staff outline process and solicitor fees

County staff and commissioners spent a focused segment of the meeting reviewing the administrative burden and legal fees associated with right-to-know (public records) requests.

A staff presenter described the county's process for handling requests for December 2024 through December 2025, including solicitor review charges for legal analysis, preparing responses and filings, and the staff time required to manually enter written submissions into the county's electronic system. The presenter said those solicitor fees shown in the agenda attachments reflect only part of the total cost and do not capture the full staff time involved.

A commissioner said the solicitor invoice totals were "close to $75,000," calling the figure "a staggering cost" and urging residents to ask questions in person before pursuing repeated requests that can generate additional legal fees. Another commissioner and staff noted the public-interest purpose of right-to-know laws while also describing recurring, duplicative requests that can drive costs.

Speakers stressed that right-to-know protections remain important for transparency but said there is a practical limit when requests seek material outside the scope of the law. One commissioner described frustration when requests are resubmitted after being denied as out of scope, which increases solicitor involvement and expense. The transcript records recommendations to encourage in-person inquiries as a first step in some cases to avoid unnecessary legal costs.

The discussion did not produce a formal motion; commissioners proceeded to the business portion of the agenda afterward.