Public records requests may be made in person, by mail, by telephone , or via email.
Record requests will be filled within a reasonable period of time during business hours.
Inspections of public records are free*. There is a ten-cent fee for each page copied.
*In response to recent legislative changes approved by the Ohio Legislature through HB 315, Bath Township has approved implementation of a policy to address charges for video redaction services in the police department related to public records requests. This discretionary measure reflects the significant time and resources required to ensure compliance with privacy standards and legal obligations under RC 149.43, Ohio’s Public Records Law. The policy allows the Bath Township Police Department to recover costs associated with the labor-intensive process of editing video recordings from body and dash camera video to protect sensitive information, such as personally identifiable data and confidential matters, while upholding the public’s right to access information. The charge is based on $75/hour up to a maximum of $750 for redaction of requested video records.
Key Points of the Policy:
Transparency: Charges will be applied in a fair and consistent manner, based on the time spent redacting video content. This aligns with the legislative intent to balance operational costs and public access.
- Cost Recovery: Fees will be determined by the Bath Township Police Department’s standard rate for staff time and resources used in the redaction process.
- Discretionary Implementation: The policy enables the police department to decide when fees will be applied, ensuring flexibility for cases where exemptions or accommodations may be warranted.
- Public Accessibility: Bath Township Police Department remains committed to transparency and accountability. Requests for video access will be processed in accordance with the Ohio Public Records Law.
We recognize the importance of balancing privacy considerations with the public’s right to access government records. This policy is a necessary step to manage limited resources effectively while maintaining our commitment to open government.
