TCF Regional Care Center - Emails (Gordon, Atas, Hertel)

Dear Mrs. Miller,

Thank you for your interest in public records of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (hereinafter “Department”).
Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. All emails related to the planning, funding, construction, and closure of the TCF Regional Care Center in Detroit, MI sent between former MDHHS Director Robert Gordon (GordonR3@michigan.gov) and the following individuals between the dates of 3/1/2020 and 5/10/2020:

- Dr. Jenny Atas (jatasmd@icloud.com)
- Elizabeth Hertel (HertelE@michigan.gov)

Please also be sure to include any attachments to those emails.

For further clarification about the project, please refer to the following links:

- TCF Regional Care Center announcement and leadership designations: https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90640-525058--,00.html

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I am willing to pay up to $25 for the requested information. If there is a fee that exceeds that amount, please notify me prior to initiating work on the request.

I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Please send all documents related to this request to this email address only.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Erin Marie Miller

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Your request has been assigned the following tracking number: H012701-081821. Your request has a legally received date of August 19, 2021. You will receive a response by the Department by August 26, 2021. Unfortunately, we are unable to expedite requests and the time permitted for response by the Department may be extended beyond August 26, 2021 by ten (10) business days.
In accordance with the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq, the Department provides copies of existing non-exempt records. Records which are exempt from disclosure under state or federal law will not be provided, or records may be redacted to separate exempt information. The FOIA does not require the Department to create new records or answer queries.

Regards,
Bureau of Legal Affairs,
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST , Reference # H012701-081821
Dear Mrs. Erin Miller,

This notice is issued in response to your request, legally received by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Department) on August 19, 2021, requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.

In order to determine what responsive records the Department might have, it is necessary to extend the time for response permitted by MCL 15.235 §5(2)(d) until September 10, 2021.

The Department’s FOIA policies and procedures are available at Policies and Procedures.


Sincerely,

Bureau of Legal Affairs,
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

RE: Public Records Request, Reference # H012701-081821 Dear Mrs. Miller,

This notice is issued in response to your request, legally received by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Department) on August 19, 2021, requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.

Your request is granted as to existing nonexempt records.

The Department’s best effort estimate for time to complete your request is ten business days from the date of this notice.

The Department’s FOIA policies and procedures are available at Policies and Procedures.

Sincerely,
Ruth O'Connor
Bureau of Legal Affairs

RE: Public Records Request, Reference # H012701-081821

Dear Mrs. Miller,

This notice is issued in response to your request, legally received by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Department) on August 19, 2021, requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.

Your request is partially granted and partially denied. Please login to the FOIA Records Center to access the records.

As to the granted portion, the Department has identified and included the responsive information falling within the scope of your request. To the best of the Department’s knowledge, information, and belief, these are all the records in the possession of the Department falling within the scope of your request. There is no fee for the request as search and retrieval were minimal, falling below the Department’s threshold for processing fees.

As to the denied portion, information of a personal nature, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of an individual’s privacy, are exempt from disclosure under the FOIA per MCL 15.243 §13(1)(a). Information subject to attorney-client privilege is exempt per MCL 15.243 §13(1)(g). Records of an advisory nature to the extent that they that are preliminary to a final determination of policy or action are exempt per MCL 15.243 §13(1)(m); Records of a public body's security measures, including security plans, security codes and combinations, passwords, passes, keys, and security procedures are exempt per MCL 15.243 §13(1)(u).

As to the denial, the Department is obligated to inform you that under MCL 15.240 §10 the following remedies are available:

1. Appeal this decision in writing to the Legal Affairs Administration for the Department of Health and Human Services, PO Box 30195, Lansing, MI 48909. The writing must specifically state the word “appeal” and must identify the reason or reasons you believe the partial denial should be reversed. The Department must respond to your appeal within ten days of its receipt. Under unusual circumstances, the time for response to your appeal may be extended by 10 business days.

2. File an action in the appropriate court within 180 days after the date of the final determination to partially deny the request. If you prevail in such an action, the court is to award reasonable attorney fees, costs, disbursements, and possible damages.

The Department’s FOIA policies and procedures are available at Policies and Procedures.

Sincerely,
Ruth O'Connor
Bureau of Legal Affairs