Open Records (Colorado Open Records Act - CORA)

The Colorado Secretary of State indicates that the Colorado Open Records Act "CORA" requires that most public records be available to the public. A "public record" includes most writings made, maintained, or kept by our office. However, there are some exceptions concerning records made available under CORA.

The City Clerk's office is the custodian of records for the City of Rocky Ford.   If you would like to request documents or records from the City of Rocky Ford, please complete one of the forms above and return it to the City Clerk.  Requests made to any other staff member will not be accepted.

Requests may be sent to:  rkorinek@rockyford-co.gov

When responding to a request for public records, we will make every effort to respond within three working days as required by section 24-72-203(3)(b), C.R.S.  The three working-day response time begins the first working day following receipt of the complete request.  A request received after the close of business or any day the agency is officially closed will be considered received as of the following working day.

We may add up to a seven-working-day extension as allowed in section 24-72-203(3)(b), C.R.S.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Questions: Does the City have an open records policy?
Answer: Yes, copies can be obtained at the City Clerk’s office. The records custodians must comply with the open records policy and procedures.

Questions: Are all City records open to the public?
Answer: No, under CRS 24-72-101 et seq. (the Colorado Open Records Act or CORA) and City policy, some records must be open, some can’t be disclosed, and some may be withheld from disclosure at the discretion of the custodian.

Questions: What are “public” records?
Answer: These are all “writings” made, maintained, or kept by the City to enable it to perform its lawful functions or document the receipt or expenditure of public funds. Public records may include any documentary material, whether paper or electronic, including digitally stored data like e-mail messages.

Questions: What is an open records request?
Answer: It is a formal written request for inspection or copying of City records as provided by State law.

Questions: What must be made public?
Answer: Everything covered in the definition of “public records” except records to which the custodian may deny access and records to which the custodian shall deny access.

Questions: What can’t be made public?
Answer: If disclosure is prohibited by court order or is contrary to state or federal law or regulation. Examples: Medical, psychological, sociological, scholastic achievement data; personnel files and letters of reference; privileged or confidential information, such as communications with attorney-client privilege or proprietary information like computer source codes; deliberative process privileged materials; sexual harassment investigation records; some election, library and museum records; records on users of public utilities and facilities; materials submitted by certain applicants for executive positions.

Questions: What records may the custodian withhold from disclosure?
Answer: The custodian may deny inspection to specific records (investigative records, intelligence information or security procedures of prosecuting attorney or police departments; licensing, employment and academic examination records; real estate appraisals; specialized details of security arrangements or investigations) if disclosure is “contrary to the public interest.” However, if access is given to any member of the news media, it must be given to all news media members.

Questions: What if someone requests a record that doesn’t already exist?
Answer: CORA does not require creation of a new record in response to a request for information.

Questions: Does the City charge for copies?
Answer: Yes, the open records policy sets a copying fee schedule that complies with CORA. It sets charges for each page copied and for labor that exceeds 1 hour.

Questions: How soon do I have to make public records available?
Answer: Within three working days unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Questions: What if I have questions?
Answer: Contact the City Clerk’s Office.