Today my rights as a citizen of Russell County were placed as less important than the rights of County Attorney, Mr. Terry Kilgore because of a little known statue called legislative privilege 30.5. On February 1, 2024 I emailed a FOIA request to the County Administrator Lonzo Lester. On February 3, 2024 at the Board of Supervisors meeting, I received verbal confirmation that Mr. Lester had received my request. Keep in mind, Mr. Kilgore was present representing the county at this meeting. After the request was ignored, on Monday, February 12, 2024, I went to the Russell County Court house and filed a writ of mandamus in general district court for a FOIA violation.
In the original FOIA request, I asked for all the documentation from the independent contractor Potesta, who the county hired to conduct an independent third party evaluation on the Moss 3 site for the landfill viability. The county was contracted with Potesta and Potesta was paid with county funds (our money). Today we went to court. There was no one from the county there. The judge informed us that Mr. Terry Kilgore invoked code 30.5 which means that since he is a Delegate and general assembly is in, he requests a continuance. Ms. Brandi Hurley asked the judge if no other lawyer from Mr. Kilgore’s (quickly expanding) law firm could be there.
At a previous board of supervisors meeting, one of Mr. Kilgore’s attorneys, Nick Compton represented the Board of Supervisors in Mr. Kilgore’s absence. I made a simple FOIA request. It was ignored. It seems like a simple legal matter that any attorney could handle. Mr. Kilgore has a rapidly expanding practice with many competent attorneys at his disposal. The letter of continuance was in fact signed by Attorney Nick Compton. I am curious as to why one of them could not be in court today about my simple FOIA request. The bottom line is, the county contracted it, the county paid for it, those documents belong to the citizens.
What is the county hiding that they are so determined to circumvent my FOIA request? Our court hearing is mid April. After the open public meeting scheduled on March 8, 2024. How can the public comment without all the facts? These are not legal games, this is our lives we’re fighting for. This seems to tie into something bigger. Daniel Meade is having a live tonight with some documentation we downloaded off the county’s website. It’ll be at either 8 or 9 on his SWVA Patriots page. Check his page for the exact details. Amy Branson.