Frequently Asked Questions

You may submit a request via online submission, mail-in, fax, or in-person. All requests must be text form, and therefore cannot be submitted via telephone.

The written request should:

  • Reasonably identify the records needed/requested.
  • Include mailing address, phone number, or other means required to contacting you regarding the request.

There are no specific forms required for submitting an Open Records Request.

Also see:
Procedures to Obtain Information under the Public Information Act
Your Rights When Requesting Open Records

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  • Contracts
  • Agreements
  • MOU’s
  • Resolutions
  • Ordinances
  • City Minutes
  • City Agenda
  • Election Records
  • Financial Records (Budgets, Capital Program Budget)
  • Subdivision Plats as the City takes them over
  • Information of Historical Value

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  • Divorce Decrees: Contact Jefferson County’s District Clerk’s Office - 409-835-8580
  • Probate, Criminal Background, Marriage, Assumed Name Information: Contact Jefferson County’s County Clerk’s Office - 409-835-8475
  • Property Taxes: Contact Jefferson County Tax Assessor’s Office - 409-835-8516
  • Real & Business Personal Property Ownership/Appraisal Information - Contact Jefferson County Appraisal District - 409-840-9944

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  • Employee name and/or job title (for example: Joe Smith or the Director of the department that record pertains to).
  • Email address if known (for example: search Joe Smith’s email for all messages to or from whatever key words that would better help the City conduct the search).
  • Phrase or keywords that they would like searched for in the email (for example: search for “loose dogs” in the following employee’s email).
  • Date range of email searches if applicable.
    • Please be advised, there could be a charge for requested information. To find the guidelines on the Charges for providing Copies, go to the ‘Fees’ tab.
  • For questions regarding this process, contact the Public Information Office at 409-880-3745. Please note that all Open Records must be in writing.

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In the Public Information Portal, citizens can find:

  • City Clerk
    • City Council Minutes
    • City Ordinances
    • City Resolutions
  • Beaumont Fire & Rescue Public Files
  • Tyrrell Historical Library Digital Archives

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Yes, here is a full list of fees for each type of record.

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Description

Cost

Notary Fees

$5.00

City Charters

$5.00

Certifications

$1.00

Standard Paper Copies

$0.10/page

Nonstandard Paper Copy (11x17, green bar, blue bar)

$0.50/page

Programming Fee (creating a new program)

$28.50/hour

Labor Cost (locating, compiling, reproducing public information)

$15.00/hour

Diskette

$1.00

Rewritable CD (CD-RW)

$1.00

Non-Rewritable CD (CD-R)

$1.00

Digital Video Disc (DVD)

$3.00

After you submit a request, you will receive an acknowledgement email that contains a link to your request.

If you submitted your request as a guest, the link provided in the email is the only way you can access your request details, including the status of your request. Please make sure to retain your acknowledgement email for easy access.

If you created an account in our Public Records Request system, you can login to view your requests, see the status, view records uploaded in response to your request, and send and receive messages to/from our records staff.