Grand Blanc Township Demands $164,000 for Fire Department FOIA Records

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Independent journalist Anna Matson has been presented with an estimated $164,000 in charges by Grand Blanc Township for two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking records related to the local fire department and its chief. The substantial fees, which Matson is appealing, stem from her efforts to uncover information surrounding Fire Chief Jamie Jent's administrative leave and ongoing fire department issues.

The charges are broken down into two separate requests: one for $100,000 covering communications between the township superintendent and Chief Jent from 2025, and another for $64,000 for public records concerning Jent's administrative leave. Matson, an investigative reporter and podcaster, expressed shock at the bills, stating that such high figures obstruct the intent of transparency laws.

Chief Jent's administrative leave in October followed his vocal concerns about staffing levels within the Grand Blanc Township Fire Department, particularly after a tragic church attack in September where four people died. Jent reportedly pushed for increased staffing, which led to his temporary removal and subsequent reinstatement with a probationary period. This situation has ignited significant community debate.

The township's handling of Chief Jent's leave and reinstatement has also led to political repercussions, with recall petitions filed against six township officials, including the supervisor, clerk, and four trustees. These petitions allege that officials mishandled Jent's administrative leave and imposed an unwarranted 90-day probationary period upon his return.

Matson, who has appealed both FOIA fee estimates, argues that the exorbitant costs are a tactic to deter public access to government records. "When a government body issues six-figure fees to access public records, that is not being transparent, that is not being accountable. That is obstruction, it is intimidation, and it goes directly against the intent of the law," Matson stated. Township officials, however, have indicated that compiling the requested records would be a time-consuming process, diverting employees from critical township needs.