Stay with me on this Economic Development story, please.

[Baitball Blogger]

I have an anecdote to add.

I have been posting the articles printed in the local paper regarding two economic development directors who were fired for hosting a party for an outgoing county employee. They had asked for donations from businesses they work with.

Today the paper released the name of the outgoing county employee that was the subject of the retirement party. Let me tell you a little story that happened to me a few years back that involved public records collections.

Back when I began collecting records from the county I had mixed results. One of the Economic Development's subdepartments was wonderful. Incredibly helpful and forthright. There was a public records specialist in the county who was also wonderful (I think she was later let go). And, of course, the clerks in the County that provided copies of County minutes were also wonderful.

But the records I wanted were from the main Economic Development Department. At first I wanted minutes, and then I just wanted to review everything they had, though my request was broad, from what I remember.

I was contacted by phone by the director of the ED department and he wanted to know specifically what it was I was looking for. This is a major no-no when it comes to Public Records Law. I don't have to be specific. In fact, when he said there were four boxes of material and he wanted to help me with my search, I told him that I was fine sifting through the four boxes.

Anyway, the next thing I know my husband gets an email from a relative who worked in the County. Yes, you guessed it. He was called into the ED office and was asked what it was I wanted. The ED Director actually matched up our last names and made an assumption that we were related. My relative was not happy about getting called into the office. It was a very uncomfortable situation for me and didn't make a strained relationship any better.

I thought I could handle it, but the ED director called me later and point blank told me that the ED didn't have any minutes. "What's that? What are minutes?" I think that's how he put it. Anyway, I buckled and just dropped it.

That's the hardest thing about using your public records rights to collect records in Florida. People who don't like transparency will throw everything at you to stop you, including your own relatives.

So, I just want to take this moment to thank the women in the county who did a wonderful, wonderful job in doing what they could to help. I understand the adverse situation they were working with.

Here's the story in the paper that triggered this rant:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/seminole/os-seminole-managers-resign-20130401,0,3602238.story

[talkingmime]

1. K&R