Sunshine Week, a national initiative that runs from March 15 to 21, aims to “promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information,” according to organizers, including the American Society of News Editors and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

The issue is timely, as Hillary Rodham Clinton has found herself answering questions related to her tenure as secretary of state, during which time she used a private email account to conduct business, and has – so far – refused to release all records.

For the most part, the nine local officials who were asked to provide emails sent and received on Feb. 23 and 24 were accommodating, providing the emails with little hassle at no cost or minimal cost. The Herald chose those days, because Feb. 23 was the day a winter storm caused havoc, closing schools, disrupting transportation and putting a strain on government resources.

But the city of Durango placed a hefty price tag on the administrative and copying costs associated with compiling the two days’ worth of emails. The city wanted $156.57 to supply emails from City Manager Ron LeBlanc and $102.83 for emails from Durango-La Plata County Airport Director Kip Turner.

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