How We Respond to a Data Request

Upon receiving your written request, we will work to process it.

• If we do not have the data, we will notify you in writing as soon as reasonably possible.
• If we have the data, but the data are not public, we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and state which specific law says the data are not public.
• If you are requesting private data about yourself, you must verify your identity before we may provide you with the data. The following constitute proof of identity (please note that Sherburne County may require that individuals provide proof of identity in person):
  • An individual must provide a valid photo identification, such as:
    • A state driver's license
    • A U.S. military identification
    • A valid passport
    • A Minnesota state identification
    • A Minnesota tribal identification
    • A college or school identification
  • A parent or guardian of a minor must present a valid photo identification and either a certified copy of the minor's birth certificate or a certified copy of documents that establish the parent or guardian's relationship to the child, such as a court order or an affidavit of parentage.
• If we have the data, and the data are public, we will respond to your request appropriately and within a reasonable amount of time by doing one of the following:
  • Arrange a date, time, and place to inspect data, for free, if your request is to look at the data.
  • Provide you with copies of the data as soon as reasonably possible. You may choose to pick up your copies, or we will mail them to you. If you want us to send you the copies, you will need to provide us with an address and pre-payment of copying and mailing charges. We will provide electronic copies (such as email or CDRom) upon request if we keep the data in that electronic format. You will also need to make payment before copies of electronic data will be provided.

Cost

Copy Costs/Associated Fees: You must pre-pay for copies before they are made.

Government Data Practices Act

The Government Data Practices Act does not require us to create or collect new data in response to a data request if we do not already have the data, or to provide data in a specific form or arrangement if we do not keep the data in that form or arrangement. (For example, if the data you request are on paper only, we are not required to create electronic documents to respond to your request.) If we agree to create data in response to your request, we will work with you on the details of your request, including cost and response time.

In addition, the Government Data Practices Act does not require us to answer questions that are not requests for data.

Additional Information

If you do not understand some of the data (technical terminology, abbreviations, or acronyms), please let us know. We will give you an explanation if you ask.