Illinois city creates Web site to track public records requests

An Illinois city launched a Web site last week that publishes information about public records requests online, The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reported.

Though not all records are available, the site includes most Freedom of Information Act requests that have been filed with the city — and the responses given — since January 2009. Certain records containing private information, police reports and documents that are hand delivered are not currently available for download.

City spokesman Ernie Slottag said that the process for handling police reports is under review and that going forward electronic copies of documents will be made during an automated process so the information is quickly available online.