HomeMy WebLinkAbout031926 email - FORMAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC RECORDS ACT NON-COMPLIANCE (Ref # S004290-030226)ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
To the Board of County Commissioners and the Prosecuting Attorney,
This is a formal notice of systemic non-compliance regarding Public Records Request S004290-030226.
On March 13, 2026, the Public Records Administrator confirmed that the first installment of records was ready. However, the County is currently withholding these records. The Administrator
is attempting to mandate the use of a third-party tracking portal (GovQA) as a condition of disclosure, despite my Formal Refusal of Consent to that delivery method for privacy and
data-tracking reasons.
The Administrator’s actions directly contradict County Policy and Washington State Law:
Violation of Resolution 68-21 (Authorized Delivery): The BOCC’s official fee schedule explicitly authorizes and sets a cost for "attachments uploaded to email." By establishing a price
for email attachments, the Board has formally recognized this as a standard and authorized delivery method. The Administrator’s refusal to use this method in favor of unauthorized "embedded
links" is an arbitrary barrier that contradicts the Board's own adopted resolutions.
Violation of WAC 44-14-05001 (Technical Feasibility): Agencies must provide records in the requested electronic format when technically feasible. The Administrator proved feasibility
today by emailing me a list of 24 tracking links to PDF files, yet he intentionally refused to attach the files themselves.
Violation of RCW 42.56.100 (Fullest Assistance): The Law mandates the "fullest assistance" and the "least interference." Forcing a privacy-conscious citizen to use a tracking-based portal
when a direct, non-intrusive method is authorized and available constitutes "excessive interference."
Jefferson County has already faced significant financial liability in Belenski v. Jefferson County regarding technical obstruction and digital records. By withholding available records
to enforce a software preference, the Administrator is creating unnecessary legal risk for the County.
I'm requesting that the Board or the Prosecutor’s office intervene to ensure the Public Records Administrator adheres to BOCC Resolution 68-21 and provides the available PDF records
via direct email attachment immediately.
Thank you,
Amber Armstrong
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