Why did Elgin stop weekly email reports to council?

The Elgin city manager's office stopped sending weekly email reports to the city council - a practice in existence for several years - two months after the Daily Herald asked to receive them, too.

The reports contained a variety of information, including updates about construction projects, commendations received by city employees and monthly tax revenues. The last report was emailed Dec. 22.

The practice began under former City Manager Sean Stegall, who started in 2009. City Manager Rick Kozal took the post in August 2016.

City spokeswoman Molly Center said the city is re-evaluating its overall communication strategy and working to improve its "branding message." The employee weekly reports have stopped, too, she said.

"If there is something immediate, Rick is going to email the city council," she said. "As far as, 'Does it need to be a weekly report or a monthly report, does it need to be on a Friday or a Monday?' We will determine that. We want to make sure we get quality information out, not quantity."

Asked if the decision was related to the Daily Herald's request, Center said, "not that I am aware of."

Mayor David Kaptain said he assumed there had been no reports in the last few weeks because of the holidays.

"I found them useful. I thought some of it was nice, like employees getting a positive response from residents for something they did," he said. "I'll check into it, because I do believe there is some value in it for the council and staff members."

In a November report from Kozal included an update on the redevelopment of the Tower Building. Based on that, the Daily Herald submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain the developer's revised cost budget. The city denied the FOIA request, and the Daily Herald filed a request for review with the attorney general's office, which is examining the matter.

Another report in December included information about a police officer saving a man's life, which the Daily Herald wrote about.

Councilwoman Tish Powell said she, too, found the reports useful.

"I think it was of value and I would assume that before they would make any changes to it, they would consult with us," she said. "I'm assuming that would part of the process."