HOW TO OBTAIN OPEN RECORDS:
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Record requests must be in writing and may be delivered in person, by mail, or email to the Harper County Clerk's Office.
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You should identify the record(s) you seek with as much specificity as possible. Harper County has no obligation to create a record that does not already exist. Also, pursuant to our record retention schedule, a record that previously existed may have since been destroyed, and Harper County is not required by law to recreate it.​​
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Click the button below to download a copy of the request form.
Completed Request Forms may be submitted in person or mailed to the Harper County Clerk's Office located at 201 N Jennings Ave, Anthony, KS 67003, via email to Clerk@HarperCountyks.gov.
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Please contact the Clerk's Office at
(620) 842-5555 with any questions.​
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A complete copy of the KORA may be found by visiting the Kansas Legislature Website:
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Further information may be found on the Kansas Attorney General's Office website:
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https://www.ag.ks.gov/divisions/administration/open-government
Kansas Open Records Act
YOUR RIGHTS
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To inspect and obtain copies of public records which are not exempted from disclosure by a specific law, during the County's regular business hours.
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To obtain a copy of the agency's policies and procedures for access to records and to request assistance from the agency's Freedom of Information Officer.
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To receive the records you request, or a written response to your request within three (3) business days.
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The response may inform you that it will take additional time to produce the records. Reasons for additional time may include voluminous records, complicated request parameters, unresolved legal issues, or difficulty in accessing archived records.
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The response may deny your request, in whole or in part. If the request is denied, the agency must identify generally the records to be denied and the specific legal authority for the denial.
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To file a complaint with the Kansas Attorney General's Office if you feel you are wrongly denied records.
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YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
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You must request records -- written, photographic, or computerized. The Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) does not require the Harper County to answer questions or prepare reports.
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Harper County may require you to put your request in writing, and you must provide proof of your identity, if requested.
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Reasonable fees, not exceeding actual cost, may be charged for access to records, copies of records, and staff time for processing your request.
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WHAT RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE
Most records maintained by public entities are open for public inspection and copying. Records commonly requested include, but are not limited to:
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Statutes
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Regulations
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Policies
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Minutes/Records of open meetings
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Agency budget document
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EXCEPTIONS TO THE OPEN RECORDS ACT
The KORA recognizes that certain records contain private or privileged information. The Act lists several exceptions to KORA disclosure, including:
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Personnel information of public employees
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Medical treatment records
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Records protected by attorney-client privilege
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Records closed by rules of evidence
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Notes and preliminary drafts
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Criminal investigation records
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Harper County is only required to provide public records that already exist. There is no requirement for any agency to create a record upon request.
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PROHIBITED USES:
K.S.A. 45-230 prohibits the use of names and addresses derived from public records for certain commercial purposes. Violation of this law can result in a civil penalty of as much as $500 per incident.
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