Public Information Requests

The Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552) gives you the right to request records the City creates or keeps. That includes paper documents, emails, photographs, maps and data. City Manager Michael Dim has designated City Secretary Margie Dubose, TRMC, as the officer for public information.

How to Submit a Request

Your request must be in writing. Describe the records you want as clearly as you can, including names, dates, addresses and report numbers. You don’t have to say why you want them, and the City won’t ask.

Under Government Code §552.234, the City accepts requests only at these addresses:

Method	Address
In person	City Secretary’s office, Dongvile City Hall, 150 E Brisket St, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Mail	City Secretary, Attn: Public Information, P.O. Box 1887, Dongvile, TX 76969
Email	citysecretary@dongvile.us

A request sent to any other City email address, including a Councilmember’s, is not a request under the Act until it reaches the City Secretary. Requests made by phone, by text message, on social media or during Citizens to Be Heard are not written requests. The City does not offer an online request form.

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What Happens Next

Prompt release. The City must release available records promptly. If it can’t produce them within 10 business days, the City Secretary will tell you in writing the date and time they’ll be ready (§552.221).
Clarification. If your request is unclear or very large, the City may ask you to clarify or narrow it. The 10-day clock restarts when the City receives your answer. If you don’t respond within 61 days, the request is considered withdrawn (§552.222).
Attorney General ruling. If the City believes some information is confidential or excepted from disclosure, it must ask the Texas Attorney General for a ruling within 10 business days of receiving your request, and it will send you a copy of that letter (§552.301). The Attorney General generally rules within 45 business days.
Business days. Saturdays, Sundays, City holidays and any day City Hall is closed are not business days.

The Act covers records that already exist. The City is not required to answer questions, do legal research or create a new document to respond to a request.

Costs

Charges follow the Attorney General’s rules at 1 Texas Administrative Code §70.3. Inspecting records in person is usually free.

Item	Charge
Standard paper copy (letter or legal size), per page	$0.10
Oversize paper copy (plats, maps, plans), per page	$0.50
CD or DVD	$1.00 or $3.00
USB drive or other media	Actual cost
Labor to locate, compile and copy records	$15.00 per hour
Overhead	20 percent of the labor charge
Programming or use of computer resources	$28.50 per hour
Postage and shipping	Actual cost

Labor is charged only for requests of more than 50 pages, or for records stored off-site or in more than one building. The City waives charges of $5.00 or less.

If the charge will be more than $40, the City sends you an itemized estimate before doing the work. You then have 10 business days to accept it, narrow your request or withdraw it in writing (§552.2615). If the estimate is more than $100, the City may require a deposit. Council has set a limit of 36 hours of personnel time per requestor each fiscal year. After that, labor is charged at the rates above (§552.275).

Your Rights and Responsibilities

Every Texas governmental body posts the Attorney General’s Public Information Act sign. Here is a summary of what it says.

You have the right to:

Prompt access to information that is not confidential or otherwise protected
Treatment equal to all other requestors, including accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act
A written estimate before the City starts work when charges will be more than $40
Choose whether to inspect records, get copies or both
Be told when the City asks the Attorney General for a ruling on your request
Complain to the Attorney General about overcharges, and to the Brisket County Attorney about other possible violations

You are responsible for:

Sending your request in writing to one of the addresses above
Answering an estimate or a request for clarification within the deadlines
Inspecting records within 10 business days after they’re made available, or the request may be considered withdrawn
Paying charges before records are released

Commonly Requested Records

Record	How It’s Handled
Constabulary incident and offense reports	Basic information is released. Details of open investigations are usually withheld (§552.108)
Crash reports (CR-3)	Released to people involved in the crash, $6.00 per copy (Transportation Code §550.065)
Building permits and inspection records	Released. Architects’ drawings may be inspected, and copies are subject to copyright
Code enforcement case files	Released. The name of the person who reported the violation is withheld
Contracts, bids and proposals	Released after award. Companies are notified if their proprietary information is requested (§552.305)
Officials’ and employees’ emails	Released, except confidential information. Give names, a date range and keywords
Utility account records	Customer information is withheld if the customer has asked for confidentiality (Utilities Code §182.052)
Water Tower Paint Ad Hoc Committee list of colors under consideration	No responsive records. The committee has not produced a list

Can I ask for records that don’t exist yet?

No. A request covers records that exist on the date the City receives it. If you want records created later, such as next month’s minutes, send a new request after they exist.

Will the City tell me why information was withheld?

Yes. If the City asks the Attorney General for a ruling, you’ll get a copy of the City’s letter (with the withheld information redacted) and the Attorney General’s decision.

Can I make a request anonymously?

The City needs a way to reach you, such as a mailing address or email, to send records, estimates and notices. You don’t have to give your reason for asking.

Last updated August 3, 2026