Published: October 23, 2008 06:12 pm      

Newspaper withdraws AG appeal

Ashland — The Independent has taken action to withdraw its appeal to the Attorney General’s Office over an open records request filed with the Boyd County Fiscal Court last month regarding inmate health care.

The Independent filed the appeal Oct. 13 after county officials failed to respond to an open records request dated Sept. 25.

The county has since complied with the paper’s request, providing documentation of all medical-related expenses paid by the county during the 2006, 2007 and 2008 fiscal years for inmates lodged at the Boyd County Detention Center.

County officials hand delivered the documents last week following an article stating the newspaper had filed the appeal with the AG’s office.

The Independent only agreed to drop its appeal Thursday after being provided with County Attorney Philip Hedrick’s response to attorneys at the AG’s office.

“We filed the appeal because we think it’s important for our local governing bodies to understand the seriousness of the open records requests we make,” said Mark Maynard, managing editor at the newspaper. “There are laws in place and we expect local officials to abide by them. Our hope is that, in the future, it won’t be a problem.”

The response included a memorandum to county officials on state open records and open meetings laws, advising them they are obligated under the law to respond to any request within three business days. It also included literature on the open records and open meetings laws, which was provided by the AG’s office.

Hedrick’s response did not include why county officials failed to answer the original request within the time allocated under the law.

CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.