So, how did we get to review the 372 pages of emails, contracts, and meeting discussions?

During the beginning of October we heard rumors from a couple of reliable sources that something was askew with the $250,000 contract Howard County signed with DCI consultants of Baltimore.

So, on Oct. 14th we went to the public information office of our Howard County Government to try and get some answers. We were greeted with, "Are you with the media?". We write on the internet. We just published the first issue of our publication which goes throughout Howard and Montgomery counties. So, in at least one sense we are part of the media.

The staff in the pubic information office were very helpful. They determined we should head down to the Planning and Zoning Department. There we were greeted with a "What do you want?" Well, we had some questions we were trying to get answers to. "Like what?" was the response. To start we wanted to see the $250,000 contract between the county and the consultant. "I don't think you can see that. What other questions do you have?" Wow, we can't see a contract that shows how taxpayers are spending $250,000 to a contractor who is going to guide the vision of Columbia? Is there something classified in there?

Well, we do have a number of other questions. "Hold on, let me see what I can find out." The receptionist goes on the phone making a couple of different phone calls. The conclusion is, "They want to see the contract and have many other questions also. okay, okay".

"You have to put all your questions in writing and I don't know when anybody is going to be able to answer them", the receptionist says.

Really, we were hoping to do this informally.

"No, you have to put it into writing."

Well, if we submit it in writing, as in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request you only have 30 days to respond.

"Yeah, I guess that's right. But, you have to put it in writing."

Ok, well here it is -- here is the FOIA. Here is the list of requests.

"Let me call them again. Yes, they have a FOIA. Okay." and she hangs up.

"Well, now this has to go to Legal and Purchasing as well as here."

Sorry, that is why we were hoping to do it informally.

"Well, we can't." "I don't think you need to see this anyway," she gruffs.

So, 30 days roll by and there is no response. So, we go back up to the Department of Planning and they aren't aware of any FOIA request. We are told to go see a higher up in Planning and Zoning.

The request went to the Legal Department and a county lawyer sent out a response. That's funny, we never received a response. We go over to the legal department to find out what is going on.

The Legal Department receptionist is very nice as I explain the circumstances. The lawyer isn't in today, but she goes and checks with her paralegal. The paralegal informs us that a letter went out on October 26, 2005 explaining that we needed to send the request specifically to two people, one in the Department of Purchasing and one in the Department of Planning and Zoning. She has a copy of the letter sent out on the 26th (somebody must be eating our mail) and offers to make another copy for me.

Let me get this straight. We originally submitted the FOIA to the Department of Planning and Zoning who sent it to legal saying I had to send in two separate FOIA's to two specifically named people in Planning and Zoning and Purchasing. Okay, now we are getting somewhere.

So, today, Nov. 14th, we resubmit the FOIA to the Department of Planning and Zoning and the Department of Purchasing with specific people named.

Nov. 25 we get a letter from Dept. of Purchasing saying they are trying to comply and checking with DCI to see if there has been anything submitted which would require some portions of the rfp not to be shown to me. According to the contract below this should not be a problem as it clearly states the contract will be available to the public and any sensitive material needs to be easily removed.