FRONT RANGE FIRE RESCUE OPEN RECORDS REQUEST POLICY
The Front Range Fire Rescue has developed the following Open Records Request Policy in order to create a systematic method of managing open records requests.
Pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act ("CORA"), public records are to be
open for inspection by individuals at reasonable times, upon request, unless such
disclosure would be contrary to the public interest as provided under CORA. As a public
entity, the District recognizes the importance of this state policy and the importance of
creating an environment of openness with respect to its internal operations. This policy is
intended to balance the public's right to inspect the records of the District with the
District’s need to protect its records and prevent unnecessary interference with its regular
duties in responding to such requests.
Procedures
1. The designated Custodian of Records (CR) will accept written CORA requests.
2. Written requests for District records shall be addressed to:
Front Range Fire Rescue
Custodian of Records
PO Box 130
Milliken, CO 80543
3. The CR will immediately forward requests to the Fire Chief, and if not available, to the
District’s legal counsel.
4. All requests must be made in writing. Faxed or e-mailed requests will not be
accepted. The first full business day following the date the request is received by the
CR will constitute the first business day for calculating the three-day or seven-day
response period, as provided below.
5. All requests must be specific as to the records sought and the relevant dates of
those records.
6. Requests for correspondence must identify the parties to the correspondence. For any
request that is vague or broadly stated the CR may require the requestor to provide
a more specific request.
7. Requests for records will not take priority over previously scheduled work activities or
duties of the District; provided, however, that the request shall be met within the
statutory three (3) business day time period unless extenuating circumstances exist.
In which case the District may receive a time extension which will not exceed seven
(7) business days. A finding of extenuating circumstances must be communicated in
writing to the requesting party within three (3) business days of receiving the request.
• The CR reserves the right to levy a reasonable fee of $41.37 per hour for research
and retrieval services of requested documents. However, the first hour of research
and retrieval services shall be provided at no charge.
8. The CR is not required by the Open Records Act to construct a document that does
not exist.
Responding to Requests for Open Records
1. The District’s legal counsel will assist the CR to determine if the information
requested is subject to inspection under CORA. If it is determined that the records
requested are not subject to inspection under CORA, the CR will inform the requestor,
in writing, that the request is being denied and provide the specific statutory citation
supporting the denial.
2. If the request is for records the District does not possess, the requestor will be
informed, in writing, that the District does not possess the requested records and
will be informed who does possess the records and where they can be found.
3. If the requested records contain information that is partially open to inspection and
partially exempt from inspection, the District may withhold the record altogether or
redact the exempted information and provide the record(s) for inspection.
4. If the request is made by a member of the media, the Public Relations Officer will
be informed.
5. Some records are available online. If so, the CR will inform the requestor of its online
availability. If the requestor still wants to personally inspect and to obtain copies of the
records pursuant to this policy, the District will reasonably accommodate this
request.
6. Once the records have been located and reviewed, the District will notify the
requestor, in writing, that the records are available for inspection.
7. A transmittal fee may not be charged for emailing electronic records to the requestor.
Inspection of Records
8. Once the requestor is notified that the records are available for inspection, the
requestor must contact the District within five (5) business days to arrange a date,
time and place to inspect the records. If, within five (5) business days, the requestor
fails to schedule a time for inspecting the records, the request will be considered
abandoned.
9. Records will be available for inspection during the District’s normal business
hours.
10. The requestor may obtain copies of the requested records at a cost of $0.25 per page, or
or documents in non-standard formats, the actual duplication costs.
• Payment must be received in advance of releasing requested copies.
• The records will be maintained by the District for two (2) business days after the
scheduled inspection time, at which point the records will be returned to their point of
origination.
11. Once a request is considered abandoned, the requestor must submit a new request to
inspect any records.