FOIA

City Clerk/Maggie McDonald (618-783-8451)
City Billing Clerk/Deputy City Clerk Amy J. Tarr (618-783-8541)
City Treasurer Melissa Brooks (618-783-8452)
Address: 108 N. Van Buren, Newton, IL 62448

REQUEST TO REVIEW PUBLIC DOCUMENTS AND ORDER DUPLICATED COPIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, SECTION 3a OF THE LOCAL RECORDS ACT INSTRUCTION FOR MAKING A REQUEST TO REVIEW PUBLIC DOCUMENTS:

In order to process requests from citizens to review and request copies of public documents in accordance with the act, an application to review the documents and order same must be filed with the City of Newton. No orders for documents will be taken over the telephone or verbally. Written requests for documents may be accompanied by the City application form. This form will allow the City to respond to requests for documents in a prompt and complete manner. Request forms are available at City Hall, at the link below, or a form can be mailed to you upon request.  Completed request forms may be mailed to City Hall, delivered to City Hall in person, or dropped in the drop box at City Hall when the office is closed. Questions concerning the application form or procedures employed by the City to locate requested documents should be directed to the City by calling 618-783-8451.

Black and white, legal or letter sized – first 50 pages are free, and additional pages are 6 cents per page.  For color or abnormal-sized copies, the charge is the actual cost of copying, to be determined on a case-by-case basis.  Charges for electronic copies are the actual cost of the recording medium (tape, CD, disk, etc.)  The charge for certifying a record is $1.

The total amount of the City of Newton operating budget includes the General Administration Budget, Water, Electric, Wastewater, and Special Accounts budgets for a total amount of $8,842,074.00 for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

The purpose of this municipality is to provide good government, services and facilities, that are, in the elected Council’s opinion, necessary or desirable for the City of Newton residents.  The Council is responsible for providing the services that the taxpayers/residents need and want.  This responsibility involves providing input into the municipality’s programs and services (policy-making) and making sure the administration provides the programs and services in the best possible way (program monitoring).  The Newton City Council is the governing body of the City of Newton and the custodian of its powers, both legislative and administrative.  The Council can only exercise the powers of the municipality in the proper form either by bylaw or by resolution.

State’s Attorney James S. Treccia (618-783-3115)
[email protected]
Jasper County Courthouse 100 W. Jourdan St. Newton, IL 62448

County Clerk & Recorder Amy Tarr (618-783-3124)
[email protected]
Jasper County Office Building 204 W. Washington Street Suite 2, Newton, IL 62448

REQUEST TO REVIEW PUBLIC DOCUMENTS AND ORDER DUPLICATED COPIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, SECTION 3a OF THE LOCAL RECORDS ACT INSTRUCTION FOR MAKING A REQUEST TO REVIEW PUBLIC DOCUMENTS:

In order to process requests from citizens to review and request copies of public documents in accordance with the act, an application to review the documents and order the same must be filed with the County of Jasper. No orders for documents will be taken over the telephone or verbally. Written requests for documents may be accompanied by the County application form. This form will allow the County to respond to requests for documents in a prompt and complete manner. Request forms are available at the County Clerk’s Office, at the link below, or a form can be mailed to you upon request.  Completed request forms may be e-mailed to the State’s Attorney [email protected], mailed to the County Clerk’s Office, delivered to the County Clerk’s Office in person, or dropped in the drop box at the County Building when the office is closed. Questions concerning the application form or procedures employed by the County to locate requested documents should be directed to the County by calling 618-783-3124.

The mission of the Jasper County Government is to be accountable to its citizens, to provide high-quality government services in an economical, fair, professional, and courteous manner, and to enhance and protect the health, welfare, and safety of those who live and work in Jasper County.

“It is the public policy of this State that public bodies exist to aid in the conduct of the people’s business and that the people have a right to be informed as to the conduct of their business.” (5 ILCS 120/1)

The intent of the Illinois Open Meetings Act is to ensure that public business is conducted in public view by prohibiting secret deliberations and actions on matters that should be discussed in a public forum.

The Act reflects the balance between the rights of the public against the needs of government officials to be able to discuss sensitive matters candidly by excepting particular narrowly-construed circumstances under which a meeting may be held in closed session. The Office of the Attorney General understands that access to meetings helps to ensure the accountability of government to its citizens.