October 2009 - Posts

• REQUEST OF INFORMATION PROTOCOL

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Public Information Office                         County of El Paso, Texas                     Thursday, October 1, 2009 Request of Information Protocol  (El Paso, TX) Thursday, October 1, 2009 – As you may know the Public Information Office for El Paso County has changed.As of Monday, October 5, 2009 all members of the media and the general public must request information to individual departments and/or each elected official. El Paso County Commissioners Court meets every Monday at 9:30 a.m. in the Commissioner Court Chambers located in the third floor of the county courthouse. The agenda to be considered during the meeting, special meetings and minutes gets posted every Thursday afternoon in the Government main web page at http://www.epcounty.com/government.asp  Although the county of El Paso has no formal policy for requesting information through the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) or Texas Open Records, any member of the public or the media are advised to request information via written letter to an elected official’s office or department.   State guidelines are as follows: Section 552.201 of the Texas Government Code says the following: (a)    The Chief administrative officer of a governmental agency is the officer for public information, except as provided by Subsection (b).(b)    Each elected county officer is the officer for public information and the custodian, as defined by subsection 201.003, Local Government Code, of the information created or received by that county officer’s office. Section 552.202 of the Texas Government Code states:  Each department head is an agent of the officer for public information for the purposes of complying with this chapter [Public Information Act]. Thus, this means that the County Judge is the public information act officer for the County of El Paso, and each department head is an agent who can receive Public Information Act requests for their county department.  Section 552.201(b), however, makes it clear that each elected officer is the public information act officer for his/her own office, and the County Judge is not someone who can receive and handle public information act requests for these elected offices.  The following link, with the office of the Texas Attorney General, will provide you with tips to help you make a successful Public Information Act request.  http://www.oag.state.tx.us/open/requestors.shtml  Following is a list of contacts for your information.  (County employees e-mail extension is @epcounty.com)  Office Contact Person Phone E-mail Issues           County Judge, Antony Cobos Gustavo Rivas (915)546-2098 Gurivas@epcounty.com County Wide Policies         County Commissioners       Precinct Issues Pct. 1 Anna Perez Cindy Hernandez (915)546-2014 Cihernandez@epcounty.com East side       Ethics Legislation, Sportspark, Internal Efficiencies and Grants Administration, Purchasing Procurement and PolicyMHMR Services andEl Paso Central Appraisal District Pct. 2 Veronica Escobar Celeste Varela (915)546-2111 Cvarela@epcounty.com Central Area       Shared Services, Ascarate Park, Eco-tourism, University Medical Center and Economic Development Pct.3 Willie Gandara Jr. Dora Oaxaca (915)546-2144 Doaxaca@epcounty.com Lower Valley and East of the County         Tornillo Guadalupe Intl. Port of Entry, Missions Corridor Revitalization Plan & Economic Development, Rural Parks & Quality of Life Partnerships, Colonia Program Funding, Water & Sewer Projects, Public Lighting Issues, Housing Projects & Funding, ARRA Funding for Broadband Connection and Road& Bridge Improvements Pct. 4 Daniel R. Haggerty Gerald McTernan (915)546.2044 Gmcternan@epcounty.com West and Northeast Communities       BCMHC, Northeast and Northwest Annex, MHMR Services and County Wide Policies           County Clerk, Delia Briones Valerie Sanchez (915)546.2071 Vsanchez@epcounty.com Vital Statistics, Deeds, Foreclosures,         Commissioners Court Meeting Minutes          Marriage Licenses, District Clerk, Gilbert Sanchez Heidi Blanc (915)546.2021 hblanc@epcounty.com Jury Duty, Passport Service Division           Council of Judges Administration Mike Izquierdo (915)546.2143 Mizquierdo@epcounty.com Courts Administration District Attorney Office Renee Railey (915)546.2059 Rrailey@epcounty.com Trials Purchasing Piti Vasquez 915) 546-2048 option #1 pvasquez@epcounty.com Purchasing Agent           County Attorney Office Elhiu Dominguez (915)546.2016 Elhiu.dominguez@epcounty.com Hot Checks, Environmental Crimes,         Protective orders, etc Tax Assessor Collector Norma Favela (915)546.2096 Nfavela@epcounty.com Auto Registrations (VRAP),         Hotel-Motel License/Liquor license Domestic Relations Unit James Fashing (915)834.8200 Jfashing@epcounty.com Parenting classes, Family Court Services, Child Support Collections           Elections Javier Chacon (915)546-2154 Jchacon@epcounty.com Election dates, results,         voter registration General/Veterans Assistance Michael Flores (915)546-8150 Mflores@epcounty.com Emergency assistance with food, (VAGA)       bills, housing Family and Community Services Rosemary Neil (915)546-8167 Rneil@epcounty.com Nutrition Program, County Library,          Economic Development,         Rural Transit Parks and Recreation Rey Chavez (915)772-5605 Rechavez@epcounty.com Ascarate Park, Sportspark         Golf Course Agua Dulce Self Help Center Rosemary Neil   Rneil@epcounty.com Colonia Housing Program         Tool Lending Program           ITD Peter Cooper (915)546.2041 pcooper@epcounty.com Information Technology Road and Bridge Department Robert Rivera (915)546.2015 rrivera@epcounty.com Pavement Program         Sand bags availability, county roads right of ways Human Resources Betsy Keller (915)546.2218 bkeller@epcounty.com Human Resources Adult Probation (WTCSCD) Stephen Enders (915)546-8120 Senders@epcounty.com Adult probation services /Community Services, Graffiti Wipe Out Program County Auditor Edward Dion (915)546.2040 edion@epcounty.com Financial Reports   You can find a detail listing of all county departments and subsections at http://www.epcounty.com/documents/QUICKREFERENCE.pdf   #######    Posted Oct 01 2009, 03:12 PM by alazcano with no comments