City of St. Clairsille, Ohio
City of St. Clairsille, Ohio

Public Records Requests

RECORDS RETENTION & PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS INFORMATION

The Ohio Public Records Act (“Sunshine Law”) requires that government agencies preserve public records regardless of physical form, including electronic records. It also applies this requirement to every public office, officer, official, and institution. The City of St. Clairsville has its own records retention policy.

Records Retention Manual

Public Records Requests

We believe in transparency and are committed to providing access to public records as outlined in the Ohio Public Records Act (Ohio Revised Code 149.43). Here’s how you can request records and what to expect.

📬 How to Make a Public Records Request

You can request records by filling out the Request Form in the link below. Then, email the request to sharvey@stclairsville.com and emoscato@stclairsville.com.

If unable to email, you may drop off a form or mail a form to:

THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE. P O BOX 537. 100 N. MARKET. ST., ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OH 43950

WHAT IS ALLOWED AND WHAT IS NOT:

🏛️ City Government Records

  • City Council meeting agendas, minutes, and recordings
  • Ordinances, resolutions, and codes
  • Public notices and published reports
  • Budget documents, financial statements, and audits
  • Contracts, bids, and vendor information
  • Public employee salary ranges and job descriptions
  • Policies and procedures

🚓 Police Department Records

  • Initial incident or offense reports (with redactions)
  • Arrest logs and jail booking records
  • K-9 unit deployment summaries (not tactical details)
  • Use-of-force summaries (finalized)
  • Traffic accident reports (excluding private information)
  • Calls for service logs

🧑‍💼 Public Employee Information

  • Names, positions, salaries, and hire dates
  • Work-related discipline (if finalized and not under appeal)
  • Training and certification records

🏗️ Planning, Permitting & Zoning

  • Building permits and inspection reports
  • Code enforcement complaints (non-anonymous)
  • Zoning maps and planning documents

🚫 What’s Not Available or May Be Redacted

Some records are exempt by law or contain information that must be redacted (blacked out) before release. These are designed to protect privacy, safety, or ongoing investigations.

🔒 Police & Law Enforcement Restrictions

  • Open or ongoing investigation details
  • Confidential informant identities or investigative techniques
  • Surveillance footage under review
  • Tactical training and procedures (including K-9 commands)
  • Victim identities in certain crimes (especially sexual assault, domestic violence)
  • Juvenile records (unless permitted by law)

🧾 Personal Identifiers & Private Info

  • Social Security numbers
  • Driver’s license numbers
  • Personal addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses (unless public-facing)
  • Bank account numbers
  • Emergency contact information

🏥 Medical or Sensitive Employee Information

  • Medical records or health insurance information
  • Disability or FMLA documentation
  • Unresolved disciplinary matters
  • Personnel investigations that are still pending or under appeal

🧑‍⚖️ Attorney-Client & Legal Materials

  • Documents covered by attorney-client privilege
  • Drafts of legal documents or internal legal advice
  • Settlement communications before the agreement is finalized

ℹ️ Need Help?

If you’re not sure whether a record is public, our team is happy to help clarify what’s available. We always aim to be transparent and timely while following the law.