[nfbmi-talk] Fw: FOIA Response to Request for Information on Expansion & Renovation of BEP Location at the State Capitol

Tue Oct 29 20:09:52 UTC 2013

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Haynes, Carla (LARA) 
To: joe harcz Comcast 
Cc: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) ; Luzenski, Sue (LARA) ; Pemble, Mike (LARA) ; Belknap, Katie (LARA) ; Duell, Elsie (LARA) ; Essenberg, Rob (LARA) ; Zanger, Connie (LARA) ; Hull, James (LARA) 
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 3:18 PM
Subject: RE: FOIA Response to Request for Information on Expansion & Renovation of BEP Location at the State Capitol

October 29, 2013

Mr. Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

E-mail: joeharcz at comcast.net

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI 48458

Re:  FOIA Response to Request for Information on Expansion & Renovation of the BEP Location at the MI State Capitol

Dear Mr. Harcz, Jr.:

This email is in response to your October 22, 2013, email requests for information, received by this office on October 23, 2013.  Please be advised that the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons is processing these requests under the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.

You have requested information as described in your email (also included below) as:

"I simply wish to know today how much BSBP is spending for the expansion and renovation of the Business Enterprise location in the Michigan State Capitol."

In order to determine the extent of the research time, the size and number of records of nonexempt information within BSBP responsive to your request, a search must be undertaken.  For this reason, it is necessary to extend the time for response, as permitted by Section 5(2)(d) of the FOIA, through November 12, 2013, for your request.

If it is determined that there is a cost involved in the processing of this request, you will be sent an email which will include an invoice outlining

FOIA Response - P.J. Harcz, Jr.

October 29, 2013

Page 2 of 2

that cost (before or no later than November 12, 2013).  This email may either request a deposit (if the cost is over $50.00) or request payment of the total cost if the amount is under $50.00.

Please note that nothing within the federal American with Disabilities Act (ADA ), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA), as amended, or the state's FOIA (MCL 15.231 et seq.) requires a public body to process FOIA requests free of charge.  Further, while the ADA and Section 504 of the RA may mandate that, upon request, material be produced in an accessible format without charge, neither the ADA or Section 504 of the RA preclude a public body from charging costs under the state's FOIA. Thusly, please note that no labor fee charges have been, or will be, assessed to convert existing, nonexempt public records responsive to your requests into an accessible format to forward to you.

Sincerely,

Carla Miller Haynes, FOIA Coordinator

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons

Attachment:  Email Request for Information

cc:     Edward F. Rodgers II

          Sue Luzenski

          Mike Pemble

Katie Belknap

Rob Essenberg

Constance Zanger

James Hull

          Elsie Duell

From: joe harcz Comcast [mailto:joeharcz at comcast.net]  

Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 1:25 PM 

To: Zimmer, Mike (LARA) 

Cc: Rodgers, Edward (LARA); BSBPcommissioners; nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org; Christyne.Cavataio at ed.gov 

Subject: simple question capitol bep renovation

October 22 to Rodgers Zimmer Simple Question Capitol

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI 48458

joeharcz at comcast.net

810-516-5262

To: Ed Rodgers, Director BSBP

Michael Zimmer, LARA, DSA

Sirs,

Could you all answer a very simple question without making a big FOIA stink over it?

I simply wish to know today how much BSBP is spending for the expansion and renovation of the Business Enterprise location in the Michigan State Capitol.

I would think the stewards of federal Vocational Rehabilitation funds and their state match should be able to come up with a simple dollar amount for this project.

All I request is that in a simple e-mail response.

Sincerely,

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

Cc: NFB MI

Cc: RSA

Cc: several

Carla Miller Haynes

LARA Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP)

201 N. Washington Square, 2nd Floor

P.O. Box 30652

Lansing, MI  48909

Telephone:  517-373-2063 or Toll-Free 1-800-292-4200

Fax:  517-335-5140

www.michigan.gov/bsbp

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