PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST

The Port of Whitman County is committed to providing full assistance to those seeking access to Port records. As a special-purpose municipal corporation that serves the citizens of Whitman County, we abide by the Washington State Public Records Act Chapter 42.56 RCW.

Please read the Policy and Procedures for Accessing Public Records to review important information regarding public records requests.

To submit a Public Records Request, please contact our designated Public Records Officer at publicrecords@portwhitman.com, call 509-397-3791 or submit a Public Records Request Form.

Public records requests should include:

• Requester’s name, address and contact information;
• Sufficient description of public records to aid in the location and production of the requested items; and
• Date of request.

Implementation of Governor's Proclamation 20-28 Public Records Act

The Governor of the State of Washington issued Proclamation 20-28, Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act, on March 24, 2020. The proclamation temporarily prohibits in-person contacts with the public that are required by the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) (RCW 42.30) and the Public Records Act (PRA) (RCW 42.56), suspending some statutory language that would require such contacts. The original proclamation temporarily suspended the PRA’s requirements for agencies to respond to PRA requests for public records within five business days from receipt, and to maintain business hours for public inspection and copying of records for a minimum of 30 hours per week. On October 1, 2020, the state legislative leadership extended the proclamation, now 20-28.11, until the termination of the COVID-19 State of Emergency or 11:59 p.m. on November 9, 2020, whichever occurs first. The five-day waiver now excludes all requests made electronically.

The Port of Whitman County is implementing the (PRA) provisions of the Proclamation as follows:

• In-person inspections of records at agency offices during the time the proclamation is in effect will not be scheduled.
• Instead of in-person interactions, requestors are asked to call the Port’s public records officer at 509-397-3791 or send an email to publicrecords@portwhitman.com.
• While the proclamation is in effect, we may not be able to provide requestors an initial response within five business days unless the request is made electronically pursuant to the modified proclamation.