The Lufkin City Council on Tuesday unanimously advanced a proposed ordinance that would cap the free staff time spent on public information requests. A second reading is required in December before the ordinance could be adopted.
The ordinance would enact Texas Government Code Section 552.275. It would allow 15 hours of free personnel search time per calendar month and 36 hours per fiscal year. After a requester passes those limits, the city could require advance payment for labor, overhead and materials before producing more records. City administration said a large rise in open records filings has overwhelmed staff, driven largely by automated requests from outside city limits.
Angelina County resident David Stua spoke against the ordinance during public comment. He said the caps undermine open government. He cited a past request he filed with Lindale Independent School District about the death of an eight-year-old student. Ward 4 Councilwoman Kim Ogden questioned Stua about any ties to Lindale. He said he is not from Lindale and has no family there. Ogden then said Stua was a waste of taxpayer dollars.