FOIA Request to City of Bessemer regarding new or amended contracts on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted by the Gastonia Times to the City of Bessemer on February 1, 2026. The request seeks access to records related to new contracts and amendments to existing contracts that were executed, approved, or became effective during the immediately preceding calendar month.
The requested records include details such as the title of the contract or amendment, names of contracting parties, effective and approval dates, contract amounts or amended values, and descriptions of the goods or services covered. The Gastonia Times emphasized that this request is for gathering information of public interest for dissemination purposes and does not require the creation of new documents. They also expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format.
The FOIA request was made under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1., and includes a plea for a fee waiver based on their role as a media organization committed to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency. The Gastonia Times is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies in investigating governmental agencies using Freedom of Information laws.
We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.
