NEW CUMBERLAND — Those looking for documents through a Freedom of Information Act request in Hancock County are going to have to pay more for them.

As part of Thursday’s meeting of the Hancock County Commission, a request from the County Clerk’s Office was approved to increase the rates assessed when providing documents through a FOIA request.

Hancock County Clerk Karan Valenti explained the rates charged by the county have remained the same for at least 25 years.

“We’ve never increased our FOIA rates,” Valenti said.

Since it first established a rate for FOIA requests, Hancock County has charged 25 cents per page produced. Under the proposal approved Thursday, though, those rates will be increased to $1.50 for the first two pages, and $1 for each additional page.

The new rates would fall in line with the fees charged for the production of all materials from the County Clerk’s Office, in an effort to better compensate for the cost associated with providing the documents.

“The cost is about $1 a page,” Valenti said. “We’re trying to line it up with our computer system.”

Mike Lucas, assistant county prosecutor who serves as the commission’s legal counsel, explained such rates consider more than just the cost of a sheet of paper.

“A good analogy would be the mileage rate,” Lucas said, noting the new rate also takes into account the possible wear on equipment as well as the cost of supplies.

County Commissioner Eron Chek also offered a reminder that residents who simply want to come to the county courthouse, and view a document there, may still do so at no charge.

“This is just the cost to take it home,” Chek said.

In other business Thursday, the commission:

Took no action on a request from the sheriff’s department for the purchase of four vehicles and related technology;

Approved internal budget revisions for the Commission Office and the County Clerk’s Office;

Approved a letter of support for the Miracle League of the Northern Ohio Valley;

Approved a request for $8,000 for the Hancock County Solid Waste Authority for the rental of a roll-off unit, transportation, and disposal as part of the continuation of the collection of household junk at the Gas Valley Road facility;

Agreed to advertise for a seasonal part-time maintenance technician;

Approved a contract with Global Science and Technology Inc. to provide support for the county’s Information Technology staff;

Accepted the resignation of Jeff Luck as a full-time 911 dispatcher;

Agreed to apply for a grant to assist the Hancock County Office of Emergency Management.

chowell@weirtondailytimes.com