Via email
The City of Waurika
c/o Amanda Mullins, City Attorney
Re: Public Access Counselor Complaint No. 2025-076
Dear Counsel,
This is an official advisement regarding the above referenced complaint (“Complaint”) submitted to this office pursuant to 51 O.S.Supp.2025, § 24A.40. The Public Access Counselor (“PAC”) received the Complaint on December 2, 2025 from Donna Miller of Best Friends Animal Society. The Complaint alleges that the City of Waurika (“City”) did not respond to Miller’s request under the Open Records Act for documents related to the Waurika Animal Shelter.
Per the terms of 51 O.S.Supp.2025, 24A.40(F), I conducted an initial review and determined the Complaint warranted a response from the City. Through the City’s counsel, I was advised that the City has made several attempts to make the existing records available to Ms. Miller. Further, that the City has the documents available for Ms. Miller’s inspection and copying. As the Oklahoma Supreme Court recently stated “The ORA does not require the production of documents in any specific format or even that the records be produced in the format in which they were created or maintained. Rather, the ORA gives the agency leave to determine how it will accept and respond to records requests.” Brook v. Reed, 2025 OK 86, ¶ 16 (citing 51 O.S. § 24A.5).
Based on the foregoing, it appears to me that the City has made a good-faith effort to comply with Ms. Miller’s request for records. Under 51 O.S.Supp.2025, 24A.40(G), no further response is required. However, in an attempt to facilitate public access, and with the City’s consent, I am attaching a copy of the requested data to Ms. Miller along with a copy of this advisement. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at (405) 522-2771 or by email at opengov@oag.ok.gov
Sincerely,
Anthony Sykes
Assistant Attorney General
Public Access Counselor
cc: Donna Miller (via email)
