1. Oct 2012 Freedom of Information: Tunica National

On 9 Nov 2012, the Transparency Committee sent the following Freedom of Information (FOI) letter requesting the amount of the expenses paid by Tunica County in Oct 2012 for Tunica National..

DELIVERED Via Email 9 Nov 2012

Dear Mr. Dulaney:

Pursuant to the state open records law, MS Code Sections 25-61-1 to 25-61-17, I write to request a total sum of the Oct 2012 expenses paid by Tunica County for Tunica National. This amount would be over and above the $39,583.33 showing in the Oct claims.

It is provided by the MS open records law that a response is expect within fourteen (14) business days (MS Code Section 25-61-5(1)).

If you choose to deny this request, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemption(s) upon which you rely.

Please be advised that I am prepared to pursue whatever legal remedy necessary to obtain access to the requested records. I would note that willful violation of the open records law can result in a fine of up to $100 and all reasonable litigation expenses (MS Code Section 25-61-15).

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Barbara R. Tuchel

Cc: Clifton Johnson
       Robert Tuchel

On 13 Nov 2012, our the Transparency Committee received the following information:

Andy,

The following is a list of expenses for Tunica National for the month of October 2012:

Salary $ 7,593.24
Ret. Match $ 1,082.80
SS Match $ 559.66
Insurance $ 620.00
Telephone $ 88.20
Utilities $ 14,491.44
Advertising $ 185.44
Serv. Agreements $ 600.00
Appropriations $ 39,583.33
Furniture & Equip. $ 4,681.00

Total Expenses $ 69,485.11

Also on 9 Nov 2012, the Transparency Committee sent the following FOI letter to Tunica County Public Projects, Inc./Tunica National.

DELIVERED Via US Mail

9 Nov 2012

Nolan Canon, President
Tunica County Public Projects, Inc.
PO Box 1453
Tunica, MS 38676

Dear Mr. Canon:

Pursuant to the state open records law, MS Code Sections 25-61-1 to 25-61-17, I write to request a total sum of the Oct 2012 income and expenses of Tunica County Public Projects, Inc. This amount would be over and above and should not include the $39,583.33 received from Tunica County.

It is provided by the MS open records law that a response is expect within fourteen (14) business days (MS Code Section 25-61-5(1)).

If you choose to deny this request, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemption(s) upon which you rely.

Please be advised that I am prepared to pursue whatever legal remedy necessary to obtain access to the requested records. I would note that willful violation of the open records law can result in a fine of up to $100 and all reasonable litigation expenses (MS Code Section 25-61-15).

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,
Barbara R. Tuchel

Cc: Robert Tuchel

On 5 Dec 2012, the Transparency Committee received a letter in response to the above FOI letter:

Ms. Barbara Tuchel
P.O. Box 1076
Tunica, MS   38676

Re: November 9, 2012 letter

Dear Ms. Tuchel:

We are in receipt of the letter dated November 9, 2012.  However, we do not believe that we are subject to the laws as cited in your letter as we are not a public entity.

To clarify this, I am writing the appropriate official in Jackson to request an opinion.  If we are subject to this law, we will certainly respond.

Sincerely,

TUNICA COUNTY PUBLIC PROJECTS, INC.

By Nolen Canon, President

So, in a nutshell it looks like former Boards of Supervisors created Tunica County Public Projects, Inc. as a means of keeping income and expenses under cover?  Hmmm, maybe the current Board of Supervisors needs to consider cutting TCPP's funding until they tell the public what their monthly income and expenses are.