[Court Ruling] City of Alexandria violated public records law (APRA)

I just got out of court today and wanted to share a factual update on what just happened. After months of fighting the City of Alexandria for records tied to utility finances and water/chlorine issues, the court has now ruled: The City's response amounted to a constructive denial under Indiana law. Key facts the court recognized: - Over 8 months of delay - No timeline for production - No valid exemptions cited - Incomplete / unverified responses The court made it clear: Acknowledging a request is NOT compliance. "Intent to respond" is NOT compliance. As a result, the Clerk-Treasurer has now been ordered by the court to: - Identify every outstanding records request - Show where they actually searched - Produce all non-exempt records - Log and justify anything withheld Why this matters: This isn't just about paperwork. This is about: - Utility rate increases - Financial management - Water quality concerns You cannot raise rates on the public while simultaneously failing to produce the records that justify those decisions. What's next: There is now a separate case pending challenging the legality of the rate increases themselves. Indiana law is clear: once a proper objection is filed, those rates should not proceed until the court rules. That issue is now directly before the court. Bottom line: - The court confirmed the City did NOT comply with the law - The City is now under court order to produce records - The fight over the rate increases is just beginning