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Public Information Request
The Texas Public Information Act (PIA) provides a mechanism for the public to inspect or copy governmental records. A requestor may ask to review records, obtain copies, or both. A governmental entity is not required to create records, conduct legal research, or answer questions. The Public Information Act is triggered when a person submits a written request. The governmental entity must respond within 10 (ten) business days, with one or more of the following:
- provide responsive information pertinent to the request;
- advise the request is being processed and will take longer than the 10 business days to produce;
- advise there is no responsive information;
- advise the request needs clarification;
- provide a cost estimate if the request will exceed $40; or
- advise the responsive information will not be released and an Attorney General Ruling has been requested.
OFFICIAL SIGNS
Public information requests for Town records (excluding police-related requests) are to be filed with the Town Secretary's Office. Requestors may submit their request via one of the following methods:
Recommended: Public Information Request Portal (GovQA) - Through this portal, you can access your requests securely, view your request history, and receive status updates.
In-Person: Town Secretary's Office Northlake Town Hall, 1500 Commons Circle, Suite 300, Northlake, Texas 76226
Mail: Town Secretary's Office, Northlake Town Hall, 1500 Commons Circle, Suite 300, Northlake Texas 76226
Email: townsecretary@town.northlake.tx.us
For assistance regarding the Records Request Portal or Public Information Requests, please contact the Town Secretary's Office via email at townsecretary@northlake.tx.us or via phone at (940) 242-5702.
ACCIDENT REPORTS MUST BE REQUESTED THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Police related requests may be submitted via one of the following methods:
Recommended: Public Information Request Portal (GovQA) - Through this portal, you can access your request securely, view your request history, and receive status updates.
In-Person: Northlake Police Department, 1600 Commons Circle, Northlake, Texas 76226
Mail: Northlake Police Department, 1600 Commons Circle, Northlake Texas 76226
Email: policerecords@town.northlake.tx.us
For assistance regarding the Records Request Portal or Public Information Requests, please contact the Northlake Police Department via phone at (940) 648-4804.
The charges for public information are set by the Texas Attorney General's Office and are found at 1 Texas Administrative Code §§ 70.1-.12.
The requestor must respond to any written estimate of charges within 10 days of the date the Town sent it, or the request is considered automatically withdrawn.
If estimated costs exceed $100 the Town may require a bond, prepayment, or deposit.
| 1. Standard Paper Copy up to 8½" x 14" | @ $ .10 per page |
| 2. Nonstandard Copy | |
| (A) Diskette | @ $1.00 each |
| (B) Magnetic Tape | Actual Cost |
| (C) Data Cartridge | Actual Cost |
| (D) Tape Cartridge | Actual Cost |
| (E) VHS Video Cassette | @ $ 2.50 each |
| (F) Audio Cassette | @ $ 1.00 each |
| (G) Paper 11" x 17" | @ $ .50 each |
| (H) Mylar | Actual Cost |
| (I) Blueline/Blueprint Paper | Actual Cost |
| (J) DVD | @ $ 3.00 each |
| (K) CD-R or CD-RW | @ $ 1.00 each |
| 3. Personnel Charge | |
| (A) Programming Personnel | @ $28.50 per hour |
| (B) Other Personnel | @ $15.00 per hour |
| 4. Overhead Charge | 20% of personnel charge |
| 5. Microfiche/Film | Actual Cost |
| 6. Remote Document Retrieval Charge | Actual Cost |
| 7. Computer Resource Charge | |
| (A) Mainframe | @ $10.00 per minute |
| (B) Midsize | @ $ 1.50 per minute |
| (C) Client/Server | @ $ 2.20 per hour |
| (D) PC or LAN | @ $ 1.00 per hour |
| 8. Miscellaneous Supplies | Actual Cost |
| 9. Postage & Shipping Charge | Actual Cost |
| 10. Photographs | Actual Cost |
| 11. Fax Charge | |
| (A) Local | @ $ .10 per page |
| (B) Long Distance, Same Area Code | @ $ .50 per page |
| (C) Long Distance, Different Area Code | @ $1.00 per page |
| 12. Other Costs | Actual cost |
NOTE: Sales tax is not applicable to public records.