Iowa Open Records Request – City of Newton, IA – #005

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MEMORANDUM

From: Michael J. Merritt, USN Retired/Writer
PO BOX 187
Newton, IA 50208
cipher.hunter@cipherphoenix.com

To: Michael L. Hansen
1511 North Fifth Ave East
Newton, IA 50208
(641)-521-6755

City Administration
Administrative Services
101 W 4TH ST S
PO Box 399
Newton, IA  50208
641-791-0807

Subj: IOWA OPEN RECORDS REQUEST – CITY OF NEWTON, IA – #005

Ref: 1. Iowa Code Title I State Sovereignty and Management, Chapter 22 Examination of Public Records (Open Records)
2. “News Flash.” City of Newton, IA, https://www.newtongov.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1553, 06 MAR 2022
3. “Media Release” Jasper County, IA https://www.co.jasper.ia.us/DocumentCenter/View/2844/Media-Release—March-5-Storm-Damage-in-Jasper-Countydocx1?bidId=, 05 MAR 2022

1. Introduction

The City of Newton, IA released Reference (2.) communicating that the Jasper County, IA Sheriff’s Department had corrected a “programming issue” related to the county’s severe weather notification system’s (sirens) degraded operational status on 05 MAR 2022. Jasper County, IA communicated in Reference (3.) that a tornado was visually confirmed traveling through Jasper County, IA on the evening of 05 MAR 2022.

2. Requested Information

(a.) City of Newton, IA operational procedures and organization chart of personnel responsible for implementing City of Newton, IA severe weather notification systems, infrastructure, and leading city personnel in providing public awareness of severe weather moving through the City of Newton, IA.

(b.) All City of Newton, IA email correspondence, including attachments transmitted or received by personnel in the organizational chart requested in paragraph 1(a.) relating to City of Newton, IA severe weather notification systems, infrastructure, and their personnel during 12:00 a.m. the day these systems were last tested before 05 MAR 2022 through 07 MAR 2022 at 12:59 p.m.

(c.) All City of Newton, IA historical records regarding system testing, preventive maintenance, and operational test results of City of Newton, IA severe weather notification systems during 12:00 a.m. 01 October 2021 – 11:59 p.m. 07 March 2022.

(d.) The desired format of requested data: Thumb drive (at the City of Newton published rate).

(e.) The originator of this request is not responsible for any costs generated by the production or organization of this data if the clerical, professional, clerical staff, legal fees, or any other required actions or cost exceed 10 hours or $1000 (whichever comes first) without prior coordination and approval from the originator of this request.

(f.) Distribution of Requested Data: Priority Mail sent to the originator of this request.

3. Purpose of Request

The purpose of this records request is to ascertain how the reported “programming issue” impacted Jasper County, IA’s severe weather notification system within the City of Newton, IA, and their ability to alert residents of severe weather that moved through Jasper County, IA on 05 MAR 2022. As well as providing city records of any historical system testing, preventive maintenance, and operational test results the City of Newton, IA completed or coordinated with Jasper County, IA that may provide the public answers regarding the cause of the “programming issue” reported by the Jasper County, IA Sheriff’s Department that occurred on 05 MAR 2022.

Respectfully,


Michael J. Merritt, USN Retired/Writer
Founder:  cipherphoenix.com
Creative Writer/Musician
Information Warfare Specialist
Information Systems Manager
PO BOX 187
Newton, IA 50208
cipher.hunter@cipherphoenix.com