Yes, Three County News is a new online newspaper. One of our reporters was having trouble getting information out of a local government and for the most part dismissing the legitimacy of the paper. There was many years back a local newspaper in Buchanan County that started out and the school board dismissed the legitimacy of The Voice Newspaper, and it cost the county 1 or 2 million dollars. The paper sued in Federal Court and won. The owner Earl Cole was at the school board office and thrown off the property as trespassing. Simply because they did not take the word PRESS seriously. Three County News will protect our reporters and push to have information not withheld from the public. Whether it is the press or the public if it is public record then government has no reason to withhold the information. Report Sarah Taylor was pretty much dismissed by some at the Town of Marion Offices. She wrote the following in her latest article.
Following the meeting, Three County News made multiple attempts to obtain copies of the audit and budget documents. An initial visit to Town Hall revealed some confusion about the process. A clerk, appearing unfamiliar with standard procedures, directed the request to be submitted formally under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to Town Manager Billy Hamm. Other requesting citizens reportedly were told to visit Mark Fenyk who is the attorney who serves the town council and acts as their FOIA officer at his office down the street.
What began as a procedural exchange became more troubling when the legitimacy of the media request was reportedly questioned, and credentials were dismissed in a manner some most would consider unprofessional. A FOIA request was formally submitted to the Town Manager, explicitly referencing the materials discussed during the June 2 meeting.
The response from Mr. Hamm was brief: “Your request has been forwarded to the FOIA officer.” A follow-up inquiry to the FOIA officer yielded an identical response, contributing to mounting frustration over a lack of clarity or assistance.
Subsequent conversations with local business owners, including a visit to Cornett Jewelers—owned by Mayor Avery Cornett—indicated that similar concerns had been voiced by other citizens. Mayor Cornett expressed sincere concern and agreed the matter merited further attention. The Mayor was found to be dedicating a lot of his time during his work day to this issue and to other citizens who stopped by to inquire.
In the days that followed, Three County News also contacted the Virginia Municipal League, the Virginia FOIA Council, and several comparable localities to inquire about their standard practices for similar requests. The prevailing response emphasized a proactive approach to transparency. Many local governments, even prior to final budget approval, make relevant materials—such as drafts or summaries—readily accessible to the public as a matter of policy and public service.
Barriers to accessing public information—especially when documents have already been distributed or discussed at open meetings—can run counter to both the letter and spirit of Virginia’s FOIA laws. Selective distribution to preferred outlets while others are denied timely access undermines public trust.
A few days after the meeting, Todd Long responded promptly to a separate request for the agenda packet which had a “budget synopsis,” that included a general overview of the budget without detailed line items. This document had been part of the original June 2 meeting packet and was made available the same day it was requested by email.
Mr. Long also engaged in a cordial and professional detailed conversation about how budget-related requests are handled. Under Virginia Code § 15.2-2503, a locality’s proposed budget must be made available for public inspection at least seven days before the scheduled public hearing. Because the FY25–26 budget has not yet received formal approval, the complete version is not currently available. However, it will be released in accordance with state requirements prior to the public hearing. Mr. Long’s helpfulness and transparency are appreciated—though it’s worth noting he is not typically the first point of contact for in-person inquiries at Town Hall.
The prior events raise valid concerns about the consistency and professionalism of how some public records requests are handled in the Marion Town Offices. In a small town where trust and community engagement are cornerstones of governance, confusion, lack of access, or selective transparency—whether due to oversight, unfamiliarity with procedures, or other causes—can damage public confidence.
Transparency is not optional. It is both a legal obligation and a foundational principle of ethical governance. Marion’s citizens deserve access to the same information used by their elected officials to make decisions on their behalf. Anything less should be addressed—and improved—without delay.
