How to File a Public Records Request in Harrison, Wisconsin

What Is the Wisconsin Public Records Law?

The Wisconsin Public Records Law, codified at Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39, is one of the most expansive open-government statutes in the United States. It declares as public policy that "all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them." The law applies to all levels of Wisconsin government, including state agencies, counties, cities, villages, towns, and school districts.

Under the law, any person — regardless of residency or purpose — may request to inspect or receive copies of public records. Examples of records subject to disclosure include meeting minutes, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, permits, zoning applications, emails sent or received on government systems, financial records, and inspection reports. The law expressly covers electronic records and communications.

Certain records are exempt from disclosure, either by statute or under a common-law balancing test. Common exemptions include personnel records containing employees' home addresses and contact information, law enforcement investigative files, attorney-client privileged communications, and records protected by other state or federal statutes. When an exemption is claimed, the burden rests on the agency — not the requester — to justify withholding.

Read the full text of the Wisconsin Open Records Law (Wisconsin Statutes §§ 19.31–19.39)

How to File a Public Records Request with the City of Harrison

How to Submit Your Request

The Village of Harrison provides an Open Records Request Form available as a PDF on the Village Clerk's page at harrison.wi.gov/clerk. You may submit the completed form in person at Village Hall (W5298 State Rd 114) during regular office hours, or by mail to the same address. The Village Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Requests may also be submitted by email; contact the Clerk's Office directly for the current email address. You are not required to identify yourself — requests may be made anonymously by leaving personal information blank on the form. Readily available records may be picked up during normal office hours, while records requiring research or retrieval will be made available within 10 business days, with requesters notified by phone or email when records are ready.

Download Required Form

What to Include in Your Request

• Your name and contact information (optional — requests may be made anonymously)
• A specific description of the records you are requesting, including document type, relevant dates, and subject matter
• The format in which you would like to receive the records (paper copies or electronic files)
• A phone number or email address where you can be notified when records are ready
• Any applicable fee threshold you are willing to pay before authorizing further costs
• A request for a cost estimate if the request is likely to involve reproduction or retrieval fees

Response Deadlines and What to Expect

Wisconsin law does not set a fixed numerical deadline for responding to public records requests. Instead, under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4)(a), an authority must respond "as soon as practicable and without delay." The Wisconsin Department of Justice advises that 10 business days is generally considered a reasonable response time for a simple request involving a limited number of easily identifiable records. Broader requests may reasonably take longer, depending on the volume of records, the staff resources available, and the extent of required review or redaction.

The Village of Harrison's published procedures state that records requiring research and retrieval will be made available within 10 business days, with the requester notified by phone or email when ready. Readily available records may be obtained during regular office hours immediately or on a walk-in basis.

A denial must be provided in writing with specific legal reasons. If an agency does not respond, a prolonged delay may be treated as a de facto denial, opening the door to enforcement under Wis. Stat. § 19.37. Agencies may charge only the actual, necessary, and direct cost of reproduction, record location (when costs reach $50 or more), and mailing — they may not charge for staff time spent reviewing records for exemptions.

What to Do If Your Request Is Denied or Delayed

If the Village of Harrison denies your public records request — in whole or in part — the agency must provide a written explanation citing the specific legal basis for withholding under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4)(b). Read that explanation carefully: a vague or legally unsupported justification may itself be grounds for challenge.

If you believe the denial is improper, your first step is to contact the Village Clerk's Office directly to ask for reconsideration or clarification. Sometimes records are withheld due to an overly broad interpretation of an exemption, and a more focused or narrowed request can resolve the issue.

If the denial stands, you have several escalation options under Wisconsin law. The Wisconsin DOJ's Office of Open Government (Wis. Stat. § 19.39) can provide informal advisory opinions on whether the denial appears to be justified. While not legally binding, these opinions often carry significant weight with agencies.

The primary enforcement mechanism is a mandamus action in circuit court under Wis. Stat. § 19.37(1). You may file the action yourself, request the Calumet County District Attorney to pursue enforcement, or ask the Wisconsin Attorney General to bring the action. If you prevail through a judicially sanctioned change in the parties' legal relationship, the court must award reasonable attorney fees and minimum damages of $100. An agency that arbitrarily or capriciously denies or delays a request or charges excessive fees may be ordered to forfeit up to $1,000 under Wis. Stat. § 19.37(3). You have at least three years from the denial to file a mandamus action.

Steps to Appeal

1. Contact the Village Clerk's Office to request reconsideration or clarification of the denial in writing.
2. Review the written denial for the specific legal basis cited; if the reason is vague or legally unsupported, note this in any follow-up correspondence.
3. Submit a request for an informal advisory opinion to the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Office of Open Government under Wis. Stat. § 19.39 — the agency can advise whether the denial appears justified.
4. Submit a written request to the Calumet County District Attorney asking that office to pursue a mandamus action on your behalf under Wis. Stat. § 19.37(1)(b).
5. Submit a written request to the Wisconsin Attorney General to bring a mandamus action (generally reserved for matters presenting novel issues of statewide concern).
6. File your own mandamus action in Calumet County Circuit Court under Wis. Stat. § 19.37(1)(a), seeking a court order compelling disclosure of the records.
7. If you prevail through a judicially sanctioned change in the parties' legal relationship, the court shall award reasonable attorney fees and minimum damages of $100; arbitrary or capricious denials may result in a forfeiture up to $1,000 (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.37(2)(a) and 19.37(3)).
8. You have at least 3 years from the date of denial to file a mandamus action (Wis. Stat. § 893.93(1m)).

Types of Records You Can Request from Harrison, Wisconsin

As a Wisconsin village, Harrison maintains a wide variety of public records covering municipal governance, land use, utilities, public safety, and finances. The following are common record types that residents, journalists, researchers, and businesses request from the Village of Harrison.

• Village Board meeting minutes, agendas, and packets
• Village ordinances, resolutions, and municipal code amendments
• Building permits, zoning applications, and variance decisions
• Development agreements and subdivision plat approvals
• Village contracts with private vendors and service providers
• Financial records, budgets, audits, and expenditure reports
• Property assessment records and assessment rolls
• Harrison Utilities records, including billing records and infrastructure maintenance reports
• Fire department incident reports and inspection records
• Election results, voter registration records, and ballot-related documents
• Village employee compensation records and collective bargaining agreements
• Code enforcement records and violation notices
• Public works project records and road maintenance logs
• Village Board correspondence and official communications

If you're unsure whether a specific document is a public record, file the request anyway. The burden is on the Village of Harrison to justify withholding — not on you to pre-determine what's available.

Tips for Effective Public Records Requests in Harrison