Policy required by Minnesota Statutes, section 13.025, subdivision 2. Page 1
Right to Access Public Data
The Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13) presumes that all government
data are public unless a state or federal law says the data are not public. Government data is a term
that means all recorded information a government entity has, including paper, email, DVDs,
photographs, etc.
The Government Data Practices Act also provides that this government entity must keep all government
data in a way that makes it easy for you, as a member of the public, to access public data. You have the
right to look at (inspect), free of charge, all public data that we keep. You also have the right to get
copies of public data. The Government Data Practices Act allows us to charge for copies. You have the
right to look at data, free of charge, before deciding to request copies.
How to Make a Data Request
To look at data or request copies of data that this government entity keeps, make a written request.
Make your request for data to the appropriate individual listed in the Data Practices Contacts on page
3.
You may make your request for data by mail, fax & email, using the data request form on page 5.
If you choose not to use the data request form, your request should include:
that you, as a member of
the public, are making a request for data under the Government Data
Practices Act, Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13;
whether you would like to look at the data, get copies of the data, or both; and
a clear description of the data you would like to inspect or
have copied.
This government entity cannot require you
, as a member of the public, to identify yourself or explain the
reason for your data request. However, depending on how you want us to process your request (if, for
example, you want us to mail you copies of data), we may need some information about you. If you
choose not to give us any identifying information, we will provide you with contact information so you
may check on the status of your request. In addition, please keep in mind that if we do not understand
your request and have no way to contact you, we will not be able to begin processing your request.
How We Respond to a Data Request
Upon receiving your 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 we have the data, and the data are public, we will respond to your request appropriately and
promptly, within a reasonable amount of time by doing one of the following:
o arrange a date, time, and place to inspect data, for free, if your request is to look at the
data, or
Nicollet County
Data Practices Policy for
Members of the Public
