At the Aug. 13 meeting of the Fond du Lac City Council, resident Laura De Gallier criticized city staff for what she described as an obstructive response to a public-records request seeking updates on the North Main Street corridor plan.
De Gallier said Council Member Tom Schuessler's November 2024 request for a status report on the North Main Street long-term vision had not been answered by the community development director, and that her own repeated requests since January 2025 produced no substantive response. She said she filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on July 10 and that the city's initial reply assessed a fulfillment cost estimate and required full prepayment of $160.15 to provide records. "No alternative was suggested, such as coming in to read the documents or sending them by email," she said, arguing that the requirement "makes it impossible for an ordinary citizen to seek information that rightfully belongs in the public domain."
Nut graf: The public comment alleges a lack of timely staff response to council and citizen inquiries about a locally approved planning document and contends that the city's cost estimate and prepayment policy are blocking access to public records; the council did not take action during the meeting to direct staff to release the records.
De Gallier also asserted that Council Member Schuessler's request had been ignored since November 2024 and called that omission disrespectful to elected representation. The meeting record includes De Gallier's statement but no on-the-record staff reply during the audience-comments portion.
Discussion vs. decision: This was public comment; the council did not vote or issue a finding at the time. The transcript records De Gallier's complaint and her recitation of the FOIA response she received; no staff explanation or remedy was entered into the public record during the meeting.
Ending: The council moved on to other items after audience comments; De Gallier's remarks remain on the public record and may warrant follow-up by council or administration outside the meeting.