Freedom Of Information Act

Click Here for REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FORM

Mail request forms to:

Kendall County SWCD

Attn: Crystal Monsess, FOIA Officer

7775A Route 47

Yorkville, IL 60560

Kendall County Soil & Water Conservation District

Freedom of Information Policy

The Kendall County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) was charted by the State of Illinois on June 2, 1947, as a public body corporate and politic in accordance with the Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District Act (70 ILCS 405).  As such, the Kendall County SWCD is required to implement the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 ILCS 140) and the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120).

The Kendall County SWCD believes that an open and honest government is essential to American democracy, and it can only be achieved through the free exchange of information between the government and its citizens. The Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act are critical tools in shining light on government action, and ultimately strengthening our democracy.  (adapted from “A Message from the Attorney General” Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, State of Illinois, September 2004.)

Description of the Kendall County SWCD

Purpose: The General Assembly declares it to be in the public interest to provide:

1. for the conservation of the soil, soil resources, water and water resources of the State,

2. for the control and prevention of soil erosion,

3. for the prevention of air and water pollution, and

4. for the prevention of erosion, floodwater and sediment damaged, and thereby to conserve natural resources, control floods, prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs, assist in maintaining the navigability of rivers and harbors, conserve wildlife and forests, protect the tax base, protect public lands, and protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the people of this State.

Organization chart:

Board of Directors

Matt Kellogg, Chairman

Butch Konicek, Vice Chairman

Scott Brummel, Secretary/Treasurer

Jane Turner, Director

Deanna Bazan, Director

District Staff

Budget: The Kendall County SWCD operating budget for FY11 is $174,323.  Funding sources include grants, sales of materials and services and donations.

Location: The Kendall County SWCD is located as 7775A Route 47, Yorkville, Illinois

Board of Directors: The Directors (listed above) exercise control over the Kendall County SWCD polices and procedures at regularly scheduled board meetings held on the 2^nd Monday of each month, excluding the months of May and October due to planting season and harvest.

Reporting:  The Kendall County SWCD is required to report and be answerable for operations to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Illinois. 

Requesting Information: To request information and records, it is recommended that the attached Request for Information form be used.

Request for Information forms should be directed to a Kendall County SWCD staff member between 8:00am and 4:00pm at the Kendall County SWCD Office or mailed to Kendall County SWCD, Attn: Crystal Monsess, FOIA Officer, 7775A Route 47, Yorkville, IL 60560 (located within the Yorkville Field Office, United States Department of Agriculture Service Center, Natural Resource Conservation Service office).

Records may be either inspected in-house or copied for later viewing. If records are being inspected, a Kendall County SWCD employee must be present throughout the inspection.

A copying fee is may be incurred when copies of records are requested. Fees should be paid in full prior to receiving the records requested. See fee schedule on Request of Information form.

Once a Request for Information is received, the Kendall County SWCD will respond within five (5) working days. Under extraordinary circumstances, an extension of an additional five (5) days may be necessary to properly respond. The requesting party will be notified in this event. 

The requesting party may appeal the decision of the FOIA officer. A written notice of appeal should be directed to the Kendall County Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Directors.

Types of Information: Certain types of information maintained by the Kendall County SWCD are exempt from inspection and copying. However, the following types or categories of records are maintained under the Kendall County SWCD’s control:

*        Monthly Financial statements, Budget, Audits and  Annual receipts and disbursement reports

*        Minutes of Kendall County SWCD board of director open meetings

*        Policies

*        Annual reports

Issued by: Kendall County Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Directors

Matt Kellogg, Chairman                                                      Crystal Monsess, FOIA Officer

Kendall County SWCD                                                          Kendall County SWCD

Date revised: March 24, 2011

Date issued:

Dates reviewed:

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"The Kendall County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.