FAQ's

How does the City of Mt. Juliet process Public Records Requests?

The City responds to requests for public records through its public records portal (NextRequest) pursuant to the TPRA, Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(A)(iv). Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(2)(B), the City will determine whether it has disclosable records within 10 days from receipt of a request. If disclosable records exist, the City will make every effort to provide responsive non-exempt records within a reasonable timeframe; however, response times will vary depending on the types and volume of records requested and the scope or timeframe of the request.

Do I have to be a Tennessee citizen to submit a public records request?

Yes. Only citizens of Tennessee have the right to inspect and receive copies of public records under the Tennessee Public Records Act. Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(2)(A). Proof of current Tennessee citizenship is required.

Is there a charge for copies of public records?

A governmental entity may charge the reasonable costs incurred in producing copies of public records and is required to provide an estimate of the reasonable costs. Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(C). The reasonable costs that may be charged for copies of public records are set forth in the Schedule of Reasonable Charges (“the Schedule”) promulgated by the Office of Open Records Counsel.

The Schedule provides that a governmental entity may charge 15 cents ($0.15) per 8 ½ x 11 or 8 ½ x 14 black and white copy and 50 cents ($0.50) per 8 ½ x 11 or 8 ½ x 14 color copy, unless the entity’s cost to produce a copy exceeds the threshold amount set out above.



A governmental entity may also charge for the labor involved in producing copies of records. The Schedule generally allows a records custodian to charge a requestor the “hourly wage of the employee(s) reasonably necessary to produce the requested information” after one (1) hour of work has been done by the custodian in producing the requested material.

What contact information should I include with my records request?

Requesters are strongly encouraged to provide at least some contact information. Providing an email address will allow you to log into the NextRequest Public Records Request portal to view your request and access records that are uploaded to your request. In addition, this will allow City staff to send you notifications regarding the status of your request.

When may public records be "inspected"?

In general, electronic records identified as responsive to TPRA requests are made available through the NextRequest Public Records Portal. Public records maintained by the Public Records Request Coordinator at Mt. Juliet City Hall are open to inspection during regular office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for City holidays. City Hall is located at 2425 N. Mt. Juliet Rd., Mt. Juliet, TN 37122.

Public records maintained by other City departments may not be readily available for inspection. It is strongly recommended that you contact the department in advance to ensure that the records are available. An appointment may need to be scheduled if the records must be located and reviewed or redacted for exempt information.