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Resident Files State Complaint Over Public Records Request

    The City of Umatilla and resident Kaitlin Brody are at odds over public records, with the Magnolia Pointe resident in the past week posting a complaint to the State of Florida’s Attorney General and its Office of Open Government requesting an investigation.
    Brody has been seeking records associated with the development of Magnolia Pointe and feels the city is in violation of state statutes regarding the timely fulfillment of requests.  According to her complaint, Brody made a filing on July 9, and has yet to receive the requested information.  Her complaint was sent on July 22.
    “I respectfully request that your office investigate this matter promptly and take all necessary enforcement actions to ensure the City of Umatilla fulfills its legal duties and that those responsible for this violation are held accountable,” she wrote.
    City officials this week confirmed they had received requests from Brody, but were clear in the belief that the city is operating well within state law regarding such matters.
    “We follow the letter of the law concerning public records requests,” said Umatilla City Manager Aaron Mercer.
    Mercer said the city had asked its legal council to review the situation, and came away secure that it is operating legally.
    Mercer said the city is simply following the statutes regarding records requests, which include a provision that allows governments to secure a deposit that will be applied to the costs associated with staff time and supplies encumbered toward the costs associated with fulfilling the request.  Mercer said Brody has failed to pay a deposit toward the costs of employee time needed to fulfill her requests.
    The complaint, which the state had yet to act on as of Tuesday, is the latest in a months-long situation.  Brody has lodged a variety of complaints against her homebuilder and city for what she sees as a variety of problems regarding the development of Magnolia Pointe, Umatilla’s largest housing subdivision.  In recent months, Brody has raised concerns over build quality, inspection protocols, drainage issues, and more inside the sprawling development.